"I waited for her in front of the supermarket when she drove up in her little compact car. She quickly parked and got out, looking for me.

“Walk on by,” she sang. “Walk on byyyyy…” She swished her hips and did a little dance step. Sacheen Littlefeather was teasing me. I’d spent the last 30 minutes or so lost in the Northern California hills circling her neighborhood. She had finally given up on my navigation skills and came to fetch me at the Safeway.

“You like Dionne Warwick?” she asked. “Walk on byyyyyy.” She hummed a few bars. “Drive on byyyyy.” She laughed, her eyes twinkling as she grinned at me over her sunglasses. “Let’s go. What are you driving? OK. You’ll follow me.” And just like that, I began my day with Sacheen.

I didn’t know who Sacheen Littlefeather was until I saw a screening of the documentary “Reel Injun” in Tulsa earlier this year. There is a film clip from the 1973 Oscar Awards in the documentary. Marlon Brando was announced winner of Best Actor for his role in “The Godfather.”

Then a stunningly beautiful Native American woman ascends the steps to the stage on his behalf. Roger Moore moves to give her the statuette but she shakes her head and gestures a refusal. She walks directly to the podium, a sheaf of papers gripped in her hand. She raises her eyes to look directly into the camera and out to the audience."

Get the Story:
Lisa Snell: What would Sacheen Littlefeather say? (The Native American Times 10/25)