Can a river be a person? In this podcast, Alderville Chief Taynar Simpson will explore this idea. He and Port Hope Mayor Olena Hankivsky are studying the possibility of seeking legal personhood for the Ganaraska River.
Alderville First Nation Chief Taynar Simpson and Port Hope Mayor Olena Hankivsky are exploring the possibility of seeking personhood for the Ganaraska River. This is similar to the efforts to protect the Magpie River in Quebec. Simpson explains in this podcast that giving the river the status of a person under the law would provide better protection than what currently exists. While the talks are moving forward, this is the first time the initiative is being made public, and the implications are explained.
This podcast also includes the details of a $47.8-billion child welfare agreement announced at the recent Assembly of First Nations meeting near Montreal. Simpson attended the meeting and will explain its impact on Indigenous people across the country and Alderville.
Originally aired: July 16, 2024
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