Biography
Crystal Echo Hawk (Pawnee) is the founder and CEO, of the only national Native-led organization focused on changing the narrative about Native peoples on a mass scale. IllumiNative has been instrumental in advancing representation of contemporary Native peoples in key sectors of entertainment, pop culture, and politics. Crystal is known nationally as a thought leader, innovator, and skilled executive. In 2021, Crystal was featured in People Magazine as one of the ‘Women Changing the World’ and she was profiled in Lifetime’s ‘Women Making History’ hosted by Vice President Kamala Harris. In January 2023, she was awarded The Elevate Prize and in 2024, Crystal, her co-CEO, and IllumiNative were awarded the prestigious Skoll Award for Social Innovation. Last year, Crystal was also named to the Forbes ’50 over 50” list and was chosen by Melinda French Gates as one of twelve global leaders to be provided with a $20 million fund to fund organizations to improve women’s health and wellbeing.