{"id":61673,"date":"2025-06-13T00:16:41","date_gmt":"2025-06-13T00:16:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ndncollective.org\/?p=61673"},"modified":"2025-06-13T00:19:10","modified_gmt":"2025-06-13T00:19:10","slug":"community-responds-to-day-1-evidentiary-hearing-for-nick-tilsen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ndncollective.org\/community-responds-to-day-1-evidentiary-hearing-for-nick-tilsen\/","title":{"rendered":"Community Responds to Day 1, Evidentiary Hearing for Nick Tilsen","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"\n

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2025<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Rapid City, SD \u2013 <\/strong>Today, on day one of a two-day evidentiary hearing involving NDN Collective<\/a> <\/strong>founder and CEO Nick Tilsen, the court heard from Nick\u2019s defense team regarding procedural issues and from two witnesses regarding Nick\u2019s motion to dismiss the charges. The court will hear from additional witnesses tomorrow.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A full timeline of legal targeting against Nick Tilsen and NDN Collective can be found here<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNick\u2019s leadership has been vital to building a better Rapid City,\u201d said Bryan Brewer, former president of the Oglala Sioux Tribe. <\/strong>\u201cThe politically motivated charges filed against Nick are an attempt to reverse progress made by and for the Native community. Today was an important opportunity to show Nick did no wrong \u2013 and I was honored to show up to support him.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Signs reading “Free the People, Heal the Land” made for community members supporting Nick Tilsen. Photo by Willi White for NDN Collective. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNick comes from a long line of ancestors who fought for justice,\u201d said Joci Tilsen, Nick\u2019s aunt.<\/strong> \u201cNick is supported by his loving family and by his community who wants his work to continue. Those in power are trying to stop Nick\u2019s work to empower Native people in Rapid City and beyond because they\u2019re afraid of change. Everyone who cares about free speech and fairness should demand the charges against Nick get dropped.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNick speaks up for those historically silenced and made to feel they have no rights and no voice!\u201d said Norma Rendon, elder and community leader. <\/strong>\u201cNick\u2019s only weapons are his intelligence and fortitude to never give up, as his ancestors guide him to provide and to protect the People. The charges brought against Nick are falsified to criminalize and silence him. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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NDN Collective<\/em><\/a> is an Indigenous-led organization dedicated to building Indigenous power. Through organizing, activism, philanthropy, grantmaking, capacity-building, and narrative change, we are creating sustainable solutions on Indigenous terms.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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TO REQUEST AN INTERVIEW CONTACT<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

press@ndncollective.org<\/h3>\n\n\n\n