"White Earth Nation’s tribal court is one to watch in strategies to protect the environment"

"A lawsuit filed over the rights of wild rice or manoomin in the White Earth Nation’s tribal court could offer new tools for tribes battling to protect treaty rights.

Conversely, aligning treaty rights with the rights of manoomin, water and other natural entities could give added clout to so-called “rights of nature” cases.

“The White Earth case is probably the most exciting thing to come down the road in the last five or 10 years from a rights-of-nature perspective,” said Thomas Lindzey, senior legal counsel for the Center for Democratic and Environmental Rights.

The Center is a nonprofit organization offering legal and legislative support for those seeking to advance, enforce and implement rights of nature."

Mary Annette Pember reports for Indian Country Today August 26, 2021. [2]