Building Resilient Communities: A Moral Responsibility | Nick Tilsen | TEDxRapidCity

Working together creates empowerment.
Thunder Valley CDC is a community development organization that is working with the local grassroots people and national organizations in the development of a sustainable regenerative community, that creates jobs, builds homes and creates a National model for alleviating poverty in America’s poorest communities.
Nick is a citizen of the Oglala Lakota Nation and the founding Executive Director of the Thunder Valley Community Development Corporation. Nick has over 15 years of experience in working with non-profits and Tribal Nations on projects that have a social mission. Prior to working with Thunder Valley CDC, Nick founded the Lakota Action Network which fought to protect Native American sacred sites, provide community organizing training while educating tribes in the implementation of sustainable renewable energy practices. Nick has been selected by the White House to lead the Ladders of Opportunity and Promise Zone Initiatives on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. In 2014 Nick was selected as an Ashoka Fellow joining a global network of the worlds leading social innovators.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at ted.com/tedx

[@antonevelone1439]

Very well said... It is time to remove the psychological barriers that divide us the people, our communities. A breath of fresh air...

[@dantemendoza2345]

2 years later and multiple houses are being built at Thunder Valley. Need more people like Nick.

[@juletaurus]

[@debwhitefoot]

Nick truly believe in what you are saying. Trying to organize for my community along the Columbia River. Where dams have decimated salmon runs and our way of life. But the people are resilient and need this kind of action.

[@albertorobles9287]

The USA and world needs regeneration nick you are a visionary your documentary is very true in 2020 god bless you and the Native Americans thank for your hope

[@thatbetterworld]

Excellent talk. Great vision.

[@juletaurus]

Hopefully Nick and the Thunder Valley will grow and thrive. This nation should be deeply ashamed for the treatment of the Native population. It remains horrific and inexcusable.

[@sahraahmedkoshin]

This was recorded over 3 years ago and it is still as relevant today. Thank you for this talk! Very powerful.

[@er...]

Still relevant in 2024!!

[@sarahhatkoff1196]

Thank you- Please post these innovative water treatment designs, as the rest of America needs to learn how to better protect water. Great presentation, and sending prayers for healing

[@barbaraserrano5535]

we need to bring back our culture......love our culture....... teach our culture

[@jzk2020]

no

[@dipdo7675]

Just ask the Crow, Arikara, Mandan and Flatheads about Lakota culture!!

[@manyamanya9799]

@@jzk2020shut your mouth

[@dickeynat3]

I love this so much! It’s brilliant! Way to go Nick, I believe this will change the world. Thank you for leading our.

[@robinmason3463]

Tilsen is soooo thought provoking. I absolutely agree it's the whole country that has been miasmatic, & it's time to heal. Humble Greatness 🌠 Like Golden Leather, this resonates & proves it's worth. Y isn't this a TED, not jvst a TEDx? I vote for another talk from our Lakota speakers.

[@bouncerslabrealnature9143]

I know I'm a small channel but I am very powerful in such matters. 50 + years fighting for the Rights of everything and everyone.

[@laura3510]

Since listening to you speak at the Standing Rock Press Conference in Nov 2016, I had to learn more about you. You absolutely amaze me Nick. Your strength and wisdom are beyond your years. You were made for this. Prayer sent that you continue to inspire and uplift the community of Pine Ridge and others.

[@donkeywaffles8816]

Laura Galvan I don't know you, but I love you. What A powerful comment.

[@ravenshaw2495]

He is right to propose that a lot of American has been broken for a long time... My ancestors came here with unresolved pain to pass on and pass down.

[@theodorelowry9768]

Beautiful healing like this radiates outward and helps all others.

[@guledsm]

Thank You from Garowe Somalia. Our 10 year (91 -2020) long civil war was based disputes between tribes..it is only recently (2020 - ... ) when the Somali youth rejected Clan division and hostility did the resurrection of Somalia began.

[@tylerehrlich1471]

Regeneration and Resilience are what I have been thinking about the past few years. Glad to see you acting on the same ideas!

[@docm4544]

So inspirational and truly moving!! Beautiful and wise soul! Very intelligent, and hits deep

[@chimar0]

Best Ted Talk I've ever seen! Keep up the good work

[@MeshelleSeaShelle]

❤ Thank you! You, your vision is amazing! ❤

[@stoonookw]

This is so beautiful. Thank you Nick for doing this tedtalk!

[@stoffolcooper230]

WHEN YOUR BORN TO LEAD IT COMES NATURAL. KEEPING WHO YOU ARE AND DONT LET HATERS. CHANGE THAT. ESPECIALLY WHEN YOUR BORN TO BE GREAT.

[@ismenenr]

This is really unbelievable. Thank you for being an inspiration. One can only hope to make such a difference. If more people saw your video and did as your community did, life would be way better for everyone.

[@jamessnow8247]

Thanks for your talk Nick. Our generation really will change the way we all live and relate to each other. Leaders like you will help it happen!

[@sharonkinsella7435]

This is terrifically inspiring. Thank you!

[@lisawatson4469]

Amazing! Instructive for all communities. Thank you

[@valeriehawk8771]

Glad someone is doing something in the area!

[@michaelbaratto7026]

Thank you for sharing.!!! - GREETINGS and Blessings from Germany and Austria - Michael

[@ponyexpression4309]

Awesome...we must do this!

[@arlinegeorge6967]

Great beautiful impressive talk. Thank you, bless you. All your dreams come true.

[@HayakaOskola]

Your talk and your work has inspired me. Thank you.

[@priscillawagner8520]

Wonderful! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@priscillawagner8520]

Bravo! 🌼💜

[@KagimuBrian]

well done sir. You are a true leader

[@JeffreyIMooreCoaching]

Great ideas Nick!!! I am excited about your work!!

[@donkeywaffles8816]

Jeffrey I. Moore I don't know u but I love you. I'm navajo native. This guy is cerebral, we are better together.

[@sharpol4236]

watching this in 2021 - we need more people like Nick

[@JohnMelland]

Rapid City is a neat city. With the Brontosaurus 🦕 on the hill. I stayed about two weeks on the Pine Ridge Reservation. I stayed with the Two Bulls. I slept in the basement by the heating oil tank. In the corner. It was a lot of fun for me. Hanging out with all sorts of different races of kids, being about 12-14 teens in a large group. From 4 ish until about 11pm. Several times me and my friends hung out after dark. My mom dressed me in a rust colored suit and tie. I got to speak to the Tribal Judge. She was really nice to me and quite pleasant. My parents were trying to adopt a couple of boys that ran away from the drugs and alcohol as well as physical and verbal abuse. My step dad picked them up in Williston ND and brought them home. After about 4 months we went to Pine Ridge to seek adoption. The Tribal Judge found their aunt and uncle that wanted to take them in. We may have been successful but traditionally, they are placed with family and especially when they are from the reservation or tribe. If no family was found than they would have come to live with us. I believe they Peter or Pete and Sandor Iron Rope. were adopted by the Helpers family. They were blessed to live and grow up with the elders of their tribe and learn the language, customs, and ways of the people. Great TedX Talk! ✌🏽❤️😅

[@CurriedBat]

We are all connected to the land, and to each other. Colonizers were doing damage to their future selves, as well as to the indigenous. We can heal, heal ourselves and heal the world, together. Most importantly, when colonization occurred, there was a massive discrepancy in available technology between the indigenous and the colonizers. We need the world to be on the same level in terms of our technologies, and once we do that we can move forward in unison.

[@davidkimwele7665]

This is strong presentation to inspire society

[@ghettobyrd9699]

We are going to make it happen by any means.

[@user-zq4vn8ui5h]

great work

[@alexanderbrewer9374]

Amazing Nick 😢

[@glitchy3799]

Wow.

[@moshen85]

As you were told, it's truly a great vision. I'm glad I came across this talk

[@nancyvaldivia8089]

The government really crippled our people of tribal Nations, in so many ways and actions toward us for our land, minersls,food,shelter,our population,medicines,we had been stripped of everything .Yet we are still surviving .yes no more complaining,now it is healing and action to correct the outside world to back off.

[@kaoskewenvoyouma2712]

Qwaqwaii / Thank You! Much Support from HOPI, AZ. Uma Pasningwu Pu Nahongvita / Take Care And Keep Going.

[@nfides]

❤

[@Chrisnickhill]

I’m here because we need to learn and understand

[@JulieAnnRacino]

Native Americans have an evolving role in America and American history (indigenous peoples in the world, previously only anthropology) with a new generational symbol of "disempowered and disenfranchised" in America (e.g., Harvard graduate, central New York). CDC's are the government's major vehicle to accept federal-state funds, leverage foundation and private funding, and develop anything from business to educational initiatives. Julie Ann Racino August 2017

[@JulieAnnRacino]

A community development organization is a top-down solution to local communities. The US Housing and Urban Development Department has excellent ideas on mixed income housing developments, among other futuristic approaches. Visions with CDCs are not too big, that is the big funding vehicle for local delivery of "federal-state housing". Julie Ann Racino August 2017

[@galilei7748]

I'm sad to say that Nick Tilsen was arrested in June 2020 for protesting at Mount Rushmore. If he's convicted, he will spend up to 16 1/2 years in prison. Whatever happens, let's hope that his work and the work of Native communities across the continent will continue their great work and invigorate these proud peoples.

[@lesliehill3025]

WHAT?!

[@solitaryrena2688]

Is there any links of the process they made?

[@havardhullen889]

I want to make my hometown a "one planet community".

[@diegoenrique7482]

Some places are better left the way they are sometimes it ain’t the surroundings

[@txexmxiii9561]

💚 HearT ❤️

[@metzli-ayoltmoon-turtleaak5689]

is there anyway I can contact the speaker Nick Tilsen? I have a wonderful idea to help our tribes.

[@jacobstowe5049]

Is there opportunities for outsiders to come help out at Pine Ridge. Such as help grow food and build strawbail cabins for like a summer?

[@johnmoss3666]

Nick we presented this concept to your and all Sioux Nations in 2008 and forward please call me asap Nick Tilsen

[@lesliehill3025]

I want to help

[@patriciaoffer9585]

I'm white and I do think that humanity's better off when it lives according to traditional lifestyles. But I remain interested in tribal peoples' perspectives on this. Some Caucasians argue that, at least with colonialism in Africa, the arrival of white people brought badly-needed feminism to some more oppressive African tribes. But I wonder whether, the further one looks back into the past, the better things look for both women and men. Granted, living in harmony with the wilderness brings with it its own problems, but I can't help thinking that this lifestyle was/is better overall. I'm what some would call a "wannabe", though if I had the chance, I'd go back and be a wannabe in Europe. Is the tribal lifestyle better? It'd be wonderful to receive some feedback, but of course it's no one's job to tell me. I could do research on my own:D

[@rustyshakelford1279]

If you ever are being harassed for something important, like getting a ticket for a busted taillight that any other citizen has to deal with, he’ll zoom down, chest puffed out and make it stop.

[@TheNemesis442]

should we bring back the camanche culture? maybe the blackfeet culture? how about one of the other warring indian tribes, should we bring back their culture?

[@gypsylake5164]

Really difficult to do with the belligerents still here destroying everything is still drunk with the idea that they should rule over the earth and the universe. Painful and traumatizing.

[@CandyAppleLovingLifeNov]

Yep...recently ...150 years ago..not like what history lied about...

[@robertsprafke9376]

Watch this guy he speaks not of who he is. Beware of these people who talk from both sides of their mouth. Do not be fooled.

[@thebigfarter]

epic fail

[@ron030363]

You're suffering may be due to the curse of the Buffalo for killing them

[@ron030363]

Native Americans I think you can integrate with modern community because the land would be still sacred even if it's developed. Just ask the Americans to keep your beliefs in the schools and that your culture must be practiced amidst then.

[@madpenguin9402]

This is the guy throwing his weight around at NoDAPL demonstrations and doing it against the First Nation. He needs to watch himself.