Steve Karnowski | AP Photo

Rep. Mary Kunesh-Podein, D-New Brighton, speaks at a news conference at the state Capitol on Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2019 in St. Paul. Kunesh-Podein was flanked by several women holding red shawls that symbolize the plight of missing and murdered indigenous women.

In the second in our series about missing and murdered women, the Counter Stories team puts a spotlight on the underreported issue of missing, murdered and trafficked indigenous women.

For years, survivors and advocates have asked the state, law enforcement officials and the media to take the issue more seriously. Recently, Mary Kunesh-Podein, DFL-New Brighton, authored legislation that created the state’s Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Task Force. That task force will evaluate the systemic causes behind the problem.

Rep. Kunesh-Podein joined the Counter Stories team for a conversation about why the issue has often been invisible — and what it will take to fix it.

The Counter Stories hosts are:

Hlee Lee, owner of “the other media group”

Luz Maria Frias, executive coach and race equity strategist

Don Eubanks, associate professor at Metropolitan State University and cultural consultant

Marianne Combs, MPR News reporter

Use the audio player above to listen to the segment.

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