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.