List of Indigenous Academy Award winners and nominees

Last updated

Yalitza Aparicio was nominated for her acting debut in 2018's Roma. Yalitza Aparicio (31374009897).jpg
Yalitza Aparicio was nominated for her acting debut in 2018's Roma .

This is a list of Indigenous people who have won or been nominated for Academy Awards . It includes those of provable Indigenous descent regardless of whether they passed as white at the time of their nomination, such as Merle Oberon. [1]

Contents







Best Picture

Year
(Ceremony)
NameCountryEthnic group(s)FilmStatusMilestone / NotesRef.
2019
(92nd)
Taika Waititi
Chelsea Winstanley
Flag of New Zealand.svg Māori
(Polynesian)
Jojo Rabbit Nominated
  • Winstanley is the first Māori of Ngāti Ranginui and Ngāi Te Rangi descent to be nominated for an Academy Award.
  • First Indigenous people to be nominated for Best Picture.
  • Husband-wife team.
  • Shared with Carthew Neal.
[2]

Best Actor

Year
(Ceremony)
NameCountryEthnic group(s)FilmStatusMilestone / NotesRef.
2018
(91st)
Rami Malek Flag of the United States.svg Coptic Bohemian Rhapsody WonFirst Copt to be nominated for and to win an Academy Award. [3] [4]

Best Actress

Year
(Ceremony)
NameCountryEthnic group(s)FilmStatusMilestone / NotesRef.
2003
(76th)
Keisha Castle-Hughes Flag of New Zealand.svg Māori
(Polynesian)
Whale Rider Nominated
  • Debut performance.
  • First Māori of Tainui and Ngāpuhi descent to be nominated for an Academy Award.
  • At the time of nomination, she was the youngest ever nominee in the category. She is the now the second youngest after Quvenzhané Wallis.
[5]
2018
(91st)
Yalitza Aparicio Flag of Mexico.svg Mixtec & Trique
(Native Mexican)
Roma Nominated [4]
2023
(96th)
Lily Gladstone Flag of the United States.svg Piegan Blackfeet & Nez Perce
(Native American)
Killers of the Flower Moon NominatedFirst Native American actress to be nominated for an Academy Award. [6]

Best Supporting Actor

Year
(Ceremony)
NameCountryEthnic group(s)FilmStatusMilestones/NotesRef.
1970
(43rd)
Chief Dan George Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Tsleil-Waututh
(First Nations)
Little Big Man Nominated
  • First North American Indigenous person to be nominated for an Academy Award.
  • First Indigenous person to be nominated for Best Supporting Actor.
[7]
1990
(63rd)
Graham Greene Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Oneida
(First Nations)
Dances With Wolves NominatedFirst Oneida to be nominated for an Academy Award. [8]

Best Supporting Actress

Year
(Ceremony)
NameCountryEthnic group(s)FilmStatusMilestones/NotesRef.
1966
(39th)
Jocelyne LaGarde Flag of French Polynesia.svg Tahitian
(Polynesian)
Hawaii Nominated
  • The first and only actor to be nominated for their first and only film performance.
  • First Indigenous person to be nominated for an Academy Award.
  • First Tahitian to be nominated for an Academy Award.
[9]

Best Adapted Screenplay

Year
(Ceremony)
NameCountryEthnic group(s)FilmStatusMilestone / NotesRef.
2019
(92nd)
Taika Waititi Flag of New Zealand.svg Māori
(Polynesian)
Jojo Rabbit Won
  • First Māori of Te Whānau-ā-Apanui descent to win an Academy Award.
  • First Indigenous person to be nominated for and to win Best Adapted Screenplay.
[10]

Best Original Score

Year
(Ceremony)
NameCountryEthnic group(s)FilmStatusMilestone / NotesRef.
1987
(60th)
Jonas Gwangwa Flag of South Africa.svg Northern Ndebele Cry Freedom Nominated
  • First African Indigenous person to be nominated for an Academy Award.
  • First Indigenous person to be nominated for Best Original Score.
  • Shared with George Fenton.
[11] [12]
2023
(96th)
Robbie Robertson Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Cayuga & Mohawk
(First Nations)
Killers of the Flower Moon Nominated
  • First Cayuga and first Mohawk to be nominated for an Academy Award.
  • Posthumous release.
[6]

Best Documentary Feature Film

Year
(Ceremony)
NameCountryEthnic group(s)FilmStatusMilestone / NotesRef.
2024
(97th)
Julian Brave NoiseCat Flag of the United States.svg / Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Secwépemc
(First Nations)
Sugarcane Pending
  • First Indigenous person to be nominated for Best Documentary Feature Film.
  • Shared with Emily Kassie and Kellen Quinn
[13]

Best Original Song

Year
(Ceremony)
NameCountryEthnic group(s)FilmSongStatusMilestones/NotesRef.
1987
(60th)
Jonas Gwangwa Flag of South Africa.svg Northern Ndebele Cry Freedom "Cry Freedom"Nominated [11] [12]
2023
(96th)
Scott George Flag of the United States.svg Osage Nation
(Native American)
Killers of the Flower Moon "Wahzhazhe (A Song for My People)"NominatedFirst member of the Osage Nation to be nominated for an Academy Award. [6] [14]

Best Production Design

Year
(Ceremony)
NameCountryEthnic group(s)FilmStatusMilestone / NotesRef.
2012
(85th)
Ra Vincent Flag of New Zealand.svg Māori
(Polynesian)
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Nominated [15] [16]
2019
(92nd)
Jojo Rabbit NominatedShared with Nora Sopková. [15] [2]

Best Sound

Year
(Ceremony)
NameCountryEthnic group(s)FilmStatusMilestone / NotesRef.
2001
(74th)
Hammond Peek Flag of New Zealand.svg Māori
(Polynesian)
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Nominated [17] [18]
2002
(75th)
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers NominatedShared with Christopher Boyes, Michael Semanick and Michael Hedges. [17] [19]
2003
(76th)
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Won
  • First Māori of Ngāi Tahu and Te Āti Awa descent to win an Academy Award.
  • First Indigenous person to win Best Sound.
  • Shared with Christopher Boyes, Michael Semanick and Michael Hedges.
[17] [5]
2005
(78th)
King Kong Won
  • First Indigenous person to win multiple Academy Awards.
  • Most nominated Indigenous person, with four nominations.
  • Shared with Christopher Boyes, Michael Semanick and Michael Hedges.
[17] [20]

Best Short Film, Live Action

Year
(Ceremony)
NameCountryEthnic group(s)FilmStatusMilestone / NotesRef.
2004
(77th)
Taika Waititi
Ainsley Gardiner
Flag of New Zealand.svg Māori
(Polynesian)
Two Cars, One Night Nominated
  • First Māori of Te Whānau-ā-Apanui descent to be nominated for an Academy Award.
  • Gardiner is also the first Māori of Ngāti Pikiao and Ngāti Awa descent to be nominated for an Academy Award.
  • First Indigenous people to be nominated for Best Short Film, Live Action.
[21]
2023
(96th)
Misan Harriman Flag of Nigeria.svg
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
Itsekiri The After Nominated
  • First Itsekiri to be nominated for an Academy Award.
  • Shared with Nicky Bentham.
[22] [23]

Best Foreign Language Film

Year
(Ceremony)
NameCountryEthnic group(s)FilmStatusMilestone / NotesRef.
1987
(60th)
Nils Gaup Flag of Norway.svg Sámi Pathfinder Nominated [12]

Honorary Award

Year
(Ceremony)
NameCountryEthnic group(s)Milestone / NotesRef.
2019
(92nd)
Wes Studi Flag of the United States.svg Cherokee Nation
(Native American)
First and only Indigenous person to be awarded an Honorary Award. [24]

References

  1. Lawrence, Andrew (2023-03-07). Viner, Katharine (ed.). "'She had to hide': the secret history of the first Asian woman nominated for a best actress Oscar". The Guardian . eISSN   1756-3224. ISSN   0261-3077. OCLC   60623878 . Retrieved 2023-12-01. Her mother, believed to have been of Sri Lankan and Māori ancestry, was just 14 when she gave birth in 1911. After centuries of intermixing, babies born from biracial relationships had evolved into a quiet shame – shunned by Britons and Indians alike.
  2. 1 2 "2020 | Oscars.org | Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences". Oscars.org. 2020-02-09. Retrieved 2024-03-06.
  3. Gross, Terry (2018-11-21). "'You Better Own This': How Rami Malek Came To Embody Freddie Mercury". NPR . Retrieved 2024-03-13.
  4. 1 2 "2019 | Oscars.org | Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences". Oscars.org. 2019-02-24. Retrieved 2020-02-16.
  5. 1 2 "2004 | Oscars.org | Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences". Oscars.org. 2004-02-29. Retrieved 2024-03-06.
  6. 1 2 3 Lang, Brent; Moreau, Jordan (23 January 2024). "Oscar Nominations 2024: 'Oppenheimer' Dominates With 13 Nods, 'Poor Things' Follows With 11". Variety. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  7. "1971 | Oscars.org | Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences". Oscars.org. 1971-04-15. Retrieved 2020-02-16.
  8. "1991 | Oscars.org | Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences". Oscars.org. 1991-03-25. Retrieved 2020-02-16.
  9. "1967 | Oscars.org | Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences". Oscars.org. 1967-04-10. Retrieved 2020-02-16.
  10. Brown, Tracy (10 February 2020). "Taika Waititi makes Oscars history as first Maori Academy Award winner". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  11. 1 2 Ledwaba, Lucas (2021-01-29). "How Jonas Gwangwa used his music to preserve his mother tongue". Mail & Guardian . Retrieved 2024-03-15.
  12. 1 2 3 "1988 | Oscars.org | Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences". Oscars.org. 1988-04-11. Retrieved 2024-03-06.
  13. "This WA filmmaker is making Oscars history". The Seattle Times. 2025-02-27. Retrieved 2025-02-28.
  14. Maupin, Jennifer (23 January 2024). "'Killers of the Flower Moon' nominated for 10 Oscars". KJRH. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  15. 1 2 Ligia (2020-02-14). "Ka whiti mai te rā!". Library Blog. Retrieved 2024-03-06.
  16. "2013 | Oscars.org | Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences". Oscars.org. 2013-02-24. Retrieved 2024-03-06.
  17. 1 2 3 4 "Double Oscar Winner". Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu. 2017-10-05. Retrieved 2024-03-06.
  18. "2002 | Oscars.org | Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences". Oscars.org. 2002-03-24. Retrieved 2024-03-06.
  19. "2003 | Oscars.org | Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences". Oscars.org. 2003-03-23. Retrieved 2024-03-06.
  20. "2006 | Oscars.org | Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences". Oscars.org. 2006-03-05. Retrieved 2024-03-06.
  21. "2005 | Oscars.org | Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences". Oscars.org. 2005-02-27. Retrieved 2024-03-06.
  22. "Misan Harriman: Nigerian who played a role in Prince Harry, Meghan love story". P.M. News . 2021-02-16. Retrieved 2024-03-16. Harriman was born in Calabar, in 1977. He is the son of Chief Hope Harriman, the colourful Itsekiri chief, who died in 2012 at the age of 79.
  23. "2024 | Oscars.org | Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences". Oscars.org. 2024-03-10. Retrieved 2024-03-16.
  24. Bahr, Linsey (26 October 2019). "Wes Studi to make Oscars history for Native American actors". ABC News. Retrieved 2020-08-29.