Come join the conversation about groundbreaking new developments in the effort to recognize the legal rights of nature, including in Indigenous communities now drafting and adopting such laws. We

Come join the conversation about groundbreaking new developments in the effort to recognize the legal rights of nature, including in Indigenous communities now drafting and adopting such laws. We will discuss why communities and countries around the globe are considering this bold step and why treating nature as a living entity with legal rights can revolutionize life on Earth in a system in which courts can be used to enforce rights of rivers, mountains, and forests. Come listen to stories from communities on the front lines, as they mobilize to build a new environmental law system that actually protects the planet.

With: Mari Margil and Thomas Linzey of the Center for Democratic and Environmental Rights; Guy Reiter, Executive Director of Menikanaehkem – Community Rebuilders.

The Rights of Nature movement launched internationally in 2006 and is growing fast. Driven primarily by tribes and citizen-led communities, more than three dozen cities, townships and counties

The Rights of Nature movement launched internationally in 2006 and is growing fast. Driven primarily by tribes and citizen-led communities, more than three dozen cities, townships and counties across the U.S. have adopted such laws to create legally enforceable rights for ecosystems to exist, flourish, regenerate and evolve.


In this program, Native American attorneys, Frank Bibeau and Samantha Skenandore, and legal movement leader Thomas Linzey report from the front lines how they are honing their strategies to protect natural systems for future generations.




Featuring


Frank Bibeau, an enrolled member of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, is an activist and tribal attorney who works extensively on Chippewa treaty and civil rights, sovereignty, and water protection.


Thomas Linzey, Senior Legal Counsel for the Center for Democratic and Environmental Rights (CDER), an organization committed to advancing the legal rights of nature and environmental rights globally.


Samantha Skenandore (Ho-Chunk/Oneida), Attorney of Counsel at Quarles & Brady LLP, possesses extensive knowledge and experience in handling matters involving both federal Indian law and tribal law. 




Resources


Mari Margil and Thomas Linzey – Changing Everything: The Global Movement for the Rights of Nature (https://bioneers.org/mari-margil-thomas-linzey-changing-everything-global-movement-rights-nature-zstf2101/)


The Rights of Nature Movement in Indian Country and Beyond: From Grassroots to Mainstream (https://bioneers.org/the-rights-of-nature-movement-in-indian-country-and-beyond-from-grassroots-to-mainstream%ef%bf%bc%ef%bf%bc/)


Bioneers Rights of Nature Deep Dive (https://bioneers.org/rights-of-nature-media-collection/)


This is an episode of the Bioneers: Revolution from the Heart of Nature series. Visit the radio and podcast homepage (https://bioneers.org/bioneers-radio/)  to learn more.

Mari Margil, Associate Director of the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund (