Sacheen Littlefeather
Sacheen Littlefeather (born Marie Louise Cruz, November 14, 1946) is a Native American civil rights activist. She is best known for presenting a declinatory speech on behalf of actor Marlon Brando, when he won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in The Godfather at the 45th Academy Awards ceremony on March 27, 1973, which he also boycotted in protest of the treatment of Native Americans by the film industry. She wore an Apache dress on the occasion. Littlefeather was born in Salinas, California. Her ancestry is Apache, Yaqui, Pueblo on her father's side and her mother is of French, German, and Dutch descent. On her official website, she states her father was from the White Mountain Apache and Yaqui tribes from Arizona and that "Cruz" is her father's recognized tribe name.