Cooking Up Culture with Chef Kim Tilsen-Brave Heart

Kimberly Tilsen-Brave Heart; An enrolled citizen of the Oglala Lakota Nation of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota, a small businesswoman entrepreneur; Executive Chef & Owner of Chef Brave Heart, Modern Indigenous an upscale private dining room and artisan catering company, located in the heart of Downtown Rapid City.  Kimberly is a 6^th generation entrepreneur proud to be a part of the Tanka Bar family.  She is an entrepreneurship and economic development specialist, helping to assist in the launch of over 187 small businesses throughout the country.  

Kimberly has been featured in Condé Nast Traveler, Departures Magazine, FODORS, New York Times and numerous other publications. She was also featured on Good Morning America as thing to experience when you come to South Dakota.

Kimberly is an official TEDx Talk presenter, She was awarded the Enterprising Friend of Small Business Award for the SD CEO Women’s Business Center in 2019, She was awarded the prestigious National Award from the National Center 40 under 40 that recognizes 40 emerging Native American leaders who have demonstrated leadership, initiative, and dedication and made significant contributions in business. Kimberly was also awarded the Sustainability award by the City of Rapid City for their commitment to creating a sustainably green business. She was selected as regional OTA Trailblazer fellow Highlighting the innovators of our region. She is as a prestigious participant of the Bush Foundation's Native Nation Rebuilders Fellowship Program.  Kimberly was honored with the selection as the Native American Instructor of the SBA e200 Executive Management Training for the state of South Dakota.  She is the co-founder of the South Dakota Indian Business Alliance, the award she holds closest to her heart is the Pine Ridge Area Chamber of Commerce Entrepreneur of the Year Award from her home reservation