Sacheen Littlefeather Biography

In the 1990s, Littlefeather contributed to a few PBS shows, including ‘The Americas Before Columbus’ and ‘Remember Me Forever’. In 2009, she featured as herself in the documentary ‘Reel Injun’. In 2018, her self-titled documentary 'Sacheen' was released.

In 1969, Sacheen Littlefeather joined the occupation of Alcatraz, a 19-month long protest led by LaNada Means and Richard Oakes against the American government's resistance to native land claims. She went on to become a respected member of California's Native American community.

In 1988, she served as the secretary and was a member of the interim board of directors of the American Indian AIDS Institute of San Francisco. In 2010, she became the executive director of San Francisco’s Kateri Tekakwitha prayer circles.

Sacheen Littlefeather was born as Marie Louise Cruz on November 14, 1946, in Salinas, California, USA. Her mother was of French, German, and Dutch descent and her father was of Mexican descent. She had two sisters. 

She attended California State College (present day - California State University). She later studied acting at the American Conservatory Theater.

In March 2018, it was reported that Sacheen Littlefeather had developed breast cancer. She died on October 2, 2022, at her home in Novato, California