Sacheen Littlefeather died at 75, Renown American activist and actress

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced her death Monday in a post shared on Twitter

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Although no cause of death was immediately given, Littlefeather announced on Facebook last January that her breast cancer had metastasized

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Littlefeather made history when she took the stage at the 1973 Academy Awards on behalf of The Godfather star Brando

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Her short speech, for which she donned a buckskin dress and moccasins, was met with a mixture of boos and applause

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In August, the Academy formally apologized to Littlefeather for the mistreatment she experienced during her speech and in the years that followed

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Native American Sacheen Littlefeather speaks at the 45th Academy Awards

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On behalf of Marlon Brando, she turned down the best actor award he won for his role in The Godfather

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Brando refused the award because of the way the Americans treated the Indian

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Sacheen Littlefeather reflects on her protest against Hollywood’s portrayal of Native Americans

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In a letter to Littlefeather, former academy president David Rubin said the abuse she endured was “unwarranted and unwarranted”

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