After a 2011 march against strip-mining, Jackson Koeppel became committed to exploring alternatives to an extractive economy. That same year, he found his cause in Highland Park, MI. The

After a 2011 march against strip-mining, Jackson Koeppel became committed to exploring alternatives to an extractive economy. That same year, he found his cause in Highland Park, MI. The Detroit-area city had lost 80% of its population, and in 2011, 1,000 of its 1,500 streetlights were decommissioned due to a $4 million municipal debt, leaving residential streets in darkness.

In response, Koeppel co-founded Soulardarity. This community organization is installing 200 solar streetlights and forming a cooperative of residents, businesses, and institutions to maintain them through annual dues. These affordable, eco-friendly lights foster community resilience and sustainability discussions.

The U'wa people of Colombia's cloud forests are once again requesting international support. For over two decades, they have fought to keep oil projects and their inevitable environmental

The U'wa people of Colombia's cloud forests are once again requesting international support. For over two decades, they have fought to keep oil projects and their inevitable environmental destruction out of their ancestral territories. Recent threats include expanded oil exploration (the Magallanes project) near their sacred Cubogón river and the bombing of an oil pipeline on their lands.

In response, the U'wa are organizing an international advocacy delegation to the United Nations. They are using video images, taken on Earth Day (April 22nd), to explain why their urgent case requires global attention and support.

The closing segment featured Kandi Mossett sharing online participant comments. Renee Gurneau then discussed the emerging discourse on the Rights of Mother Earth, emphasizing the importance of

The closing segment featured Kandi Mossett sharing online participant comments. Renee Gurneau then discussed the emerging discourse on the Rights of Mother Earth, emphasizing the importance of ancestral wisdom and power in future work.

Tom Goldtooth offered final thoughts and acknowledgments. Karen RedHawk Dallett, Project Coordinator for Pachamama Alliance, concluded the three-day Rights of Mother Earth gathering. She thanked all contributors, highlighting the event as a successful first step in defining and promoting these vital rights.

Conference participants highlighted the destruction of land values when Indigenous Knowledge is disregarded. They emphasized the choice between ignoring sustainable systems and embracing ancient

Conference participants highlighted the destruction of land values when Indigenous Knowledge is disregarded. They emphasized the choice between ignoring sustainable systems and embracing ancient wisdom that sustained people for millennia.

Online participant Quese IMQ, an Indigenous HipHop Artist, shared the spiritual significance of building earth lodges in his life. He noted the shifting balance of life on Earth and asserted that it is time for Indigenous Peoples to lead.

Kandi Mossett, IEN's Native Energy and Climate Justice Organizer, introduced the event, acknowledging the Indigenous Youth Movement for their vital contributions.

Dr. Daniel Wildcat

Kandi Mossett, IEN's Native Energy and Climate Justice Organizer, introduced the event, acknowledging the Indigenous Youth Movement for their vital contributions.

Dr. Daniel Wildcat presented a "Rights of Mother Earth" banner created by children from Haskell Indian Nations University's Day Care Center, emphasizing their significance as "OUR CHILDREN and Our FUTURE!"

Chief Ruben George and Ben West from the First Nations Women's Initiative (fwii.net) also contributed through a PowerPoint presentation and panel discussion.