Brando’s relationship with Littlefeather developed through their shared commitment to Indigenous causes. She had written to him about Hollywood’s stereotyping of Native Americans in film, and he later responded by telephone. According to her account, they developed a friendship grounded in their mutual concern about the representation of Native people in the entertainment industry. By early 1973, she was among the activists and advocates with whom he was in regular contact on these issues.
He asked her to go to the ceremony on short notice — the day before the broadcast, according to her account. She accepted.
## The Night of the Refusal: What the Broadcast Shows
Roger Moore and Liv Ullmann presented the Best Actor award that evening. When Brando’s name was announced as the winner for The Godfather, a young woman walked toward the stage.
Sacheen Littlefeather was twenty-six years old. She wore a buckskin dress and moccasins. She carried in her hand, but did not read from, a lengthy statement that Brando had prepared — reportedly around eight pages, typed at the last minute, which she had read by flashlight in a car on the way to the ceremony. She had been told by producer Howard Koch, before she went on, that she had approximately sixty seconds. His message was accompanied by a threat: if she exceeded her time limit or did not comply, she could face arrest.
What she said onstage, in the time she was given, was brief and improvised. She introduced herself as Apache, and as the president of the National Native American Affirmative Image Committee. She said that Marlon Brando very regretfully could not accept this very generous award because of the treatment of American Indians today by the film industry. She invited those who wished to know more to read the statement that she would be happy to present outside the auditorium. She closed by expressing hope that hearts and understanding would meet in the future, with love and generosity.