Crystal Echo Hawk, Michael Johnson to Co-Lead IllumiNative

Jazz Tangcay and Jack Dunn

4 June 2024 at 10:00 am·2-min read

IllumiNative has formed a new executive team to lead the Native woman-led racial and social justice organization in its expansion. Founder Crystal Echo Hawk joins as CEO, Michael Johnson as president, Angel Charley as inaugural executive director and Jennifer Van der Heide as vice president of advocacy and engagement.

Among other duties, the executive team will oversee the non-profit organization IllumiNative, INC., and IllumiNative’s new media and production company IllumiNative Media, LLC.

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“When I started this organization in 2018 I had no idea where it would take me, but the growth and impact we’ve achieved in the last five years has surpassed my wildest expectations,” said Hawk. “The creation of IllumiNative Media is a huge step for our organization and the future of Native representation, and will allow us to invest in and support Native creatives both in front of and behind the screen to raise cultural awareness and promote authentic Native storytelling.”

“I am honored to join Crystal and the talented IllumiNative team as president as we embark on this journey of community-directed radical movement building and the acknowledgment and celebration of self-determination to increase the visibility of Native peoples,” added Johnson. “Research is IllumiNative’s DNA – it’s what the organization was founded on in 2018 and it continues to be the driving force behind our ability to create change and respond to the evolving needs of our communities, which is why we’ll be releasing brand new research this year to guide our vision for the future of our organization and the fight to build power for Native peoples.”

IllumiNative has also formed its first board of directors to help assist the executive team with the organization’s strategic direction. Members include Holly Cook Macarro, Mary Kathryn Nagle, Cheryl Crazy Bull, Wayne L. Ducheneaux II, Bird Runningwater, Kathy Baird, Tilane Jones and Anna McMurphy.

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