President Barack Obama spoke to more than 500 tribal leaders today during the fourth White House Tribal Nations summit in Washington, and hailed the head of a nonprofit organization on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation as an example of positive change in Indian Country.

Obama called Nick Tilsen…executive director of Thunder Valley, a community-development corporation on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation…someone making great strides among Native Americans.

The president said that by using spiritual and cultural practices, Thunder Valley is helping to keep Native youth off drugs and alcohol while also building a clean energy program.

Mr Obama said that “day by day” and “community by community” Tilsen, Thunder Valley and others like it are making a positive difference in Indian Country.