SANTA MONICA, Calif. — A popular musical artist recognized a Pawnee Nation community leader on stage at the People’s Choice Awards on Tuesday.

Lizzo introduced 17 female activists in her acceptance speech for the People’s Champion of 2022 award, including Crystal Echo Hawk. Echo Hawk is a member of the Pawnee Nation and founder and executive director of IllumiNative, a Native women-led organization that aims to advance justice, equity and self-determination for Native peoples.

“Ever since the beginning of my career, I’ve used my platform to amplify marginalized voices. So tonight, I am sharing this honor,” said Lizzo as she brought the activists on the stage with her, including Echo Hawk.

“This is Crystal Echo Hawk, a member of the Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma who seeks to amplify Native voices through her organization, IllumiNative,” said Lizzo. “She disrupts the invisibility of Native peoples here in America.”

IllumiNative was founded in 2018 to activate the findings of the Reclaiming Native Truth project, the largest public opinion research and strategy-setting project conducted by, for and about Native peoples.

Lizzo will perform her first concert in the state in Tulsa this spring.

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