Nick Tilsen is a prominent Oglala Lakota social entrepreneur, activist, and nonprofit leader. He is the founder, President, and CEO of NDN Collective, an organization that builds Indigenous power through philanthropy, policy advocacy, and community development. Raised in both Lakota and Jewish traditions, his worldview was shaped by his grandfather, civil rights attorney Ken Tilsen, alongside traditions of Lakota activism.
Tilsen previously founded the Thunder Valley Community Development Corporation, where he directed sustainable housing and economic projects on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation for over a decade. His work with Thunder Valley and his leadership in the LANDBACK movement earned him the Skoll Award for Social Innovation in 2022, as well as fellowships from Ashoka and the Rockefeller Foundation.
Tilsen steadfastly aligns himself with the Palestinian liberation movement through active protest and sharp political discourse. He has led Indigenous activists in ceasefire rallies for Palestine in Washington, D.C., emphasizing the inherent kinship between Indigenous peoples and Palestinians in resisting “settler-colonial” violence. Drawing on his Jewish background, he has outspokenly stated that Zionism is by design at odds with justice and has publicly criticized the U.S. for using resources extracted from stolen Indigenous lands to fund Israeli military operations. He calls for international attention to Palestinian human rights, viewing Palestinian freedom as an indispensable part of achieving collective global liberation.