**In this week’s episode of the American Genocide podcast, host Ben Rhodes talks to Crystal Echo Hawk about the epidemic of missing and murdered Indigenous women. Echo Hawk is the founder and executive director of IllumiNative, a nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing the visibility of Native American issues in the media. She is also a member of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Task Force, which was created by the Department of Justice in 2019 to address the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women.**
**Echo Hawk shares her personal experiences with violence against Indigenous women, and discusses the systemic racism and sexism that contribute to the epidemic. She also talks about the importance of raising awareness about this issue, and the work that IllumiNative is doing to support Indigenous women and families.**
**The episode is a powerful and moving account of the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women. Echo Hawk’s voice is essential to this conversation, and her work is making a real difference in the lives of Indigenous women and families.**
**Here are some key takeaways from the episode:**
* The epidemic of missing and murdered Indigenous women is a crisis that is often overlooked and underreported.
* Systemic racism and sexism contribute to the vulnerability of Indigenous women to violence.
* It is important to raise awareness about this issue and support the work of organizations like IllumiNative that are working to address it.
* We need to listen to the voices of Indigenous women and amplify their stories.
* We need to work together to create a more just and equitable world for all Indigenous people.
**If you are interested in learning more about the missing and murdered Indigenous women epidemic, here are some resources:**
* [IllumiNative](https://www.illuminatives.org/)
* [Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Task Force](https://www.justice.gov/tribal/mm iwt)
* [National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center](https://www.niwrc.org/)
* [Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women](https://www.csvanw.org/)
**You can also help by:**
* Sharing information about the epidemic on social media.
* Contacting your elected officials and urging them to support legislation that addresses the issue.
* Donating to organizations that are working to support Indigenous women and families.
**Together, we can make a difference.**.
