“I’m hopeful because of young folks like Nick Tilsen. Nick built a community center that uses spiritual and cultural teachings to help young people stay off drugs and their parents live healthier lifestyles. It’s making a difference. Today he’s building something bigger, a clean energy community that will provide affordable housing and help more Lakota small businesses get off the ground. Day by day, family by family, community by community, Nick and his nonprofit have helped inspire a new beginning for Pine Ridge.Nick says we decided as a community to take ownership of our own future. And that makes me hopeful.”
- President Barack Obama, The White House Tribal Nations Conference, Dec. 5, 2012