As threats to tribal sovereignty and the environment continue to grow, Indigenous values and Rights of Nature frameworks are evolving from theoretical concepts into practical strategies for reshaping laws and defending land.
This course will focus on strategy — specifically, how to put these concepts into practice through organizing, policy development, and collective action.
We will examine the root causes of legal philosophies that have historically marginalized Indigenous nations and harmed ecosystems. Bringing together visionary leaders at the forefront of Indigenous law, treaty advocacy, and the Rights of Nature movement, we will explore how Indigenous worldviews and legal traditions are being revitalized to safeguard both sovereignty and the environment.
Through four interactive sessions, we will explore the connections between tribal sovereignty and environmental governance, learn how Rights of Nature laws are being developed and defended, and see how these movements intersect with community organizing, youth leadership, and local action.
The course is open to anyone interested in learning about these frameworks and their practical applications. This includes tribal leaders, grassroots organizers, educators, lawyers, legal advocates, youth activists, and allies dedicated to transforming legal systems.
By the end of the course, participants will be equipped with actionable insights, a clear legal context, and a movement-oriented mindset to advance Indigenous-grounded rights related to land, water, and future generations.
This course runs from September 2 – 23, 2026, with live classes held on Wednesdays from 2 – 4 p.m. (PT) via Zoom. Recordings will be available for registrants who miss a session.
In a series of four 2-hour sessions, participants will explore important legal theories, the history of movements, case studies, and practical strategies for incorporating Indigenous values into governance systems that safeguard both people and ecosystems. These sessions will feature guest presentations, discussions, and interactive Q&A sessions.
Roots of the Law: Western Legal Foundations and Indigenous Legal Values
This session explores how Western legal systems have undermined Indigenous sovereignty and contributed to environmental degradation. We will compare dominant U.S. environmental law with Indigenous legal perspectives and Rights of Nature frameworks, highlighting the urgent need to revitalize Indigenous legal approaches.
Rights of Nature as a Sovereignty Strategy
Participants will examine how Tribal Nations are utilizing Rights of Nature laws, resolutions, and policies to enhance their sovereignty and safeguard land and water. We will review case studies from Indian Country and discuss how indigenous governance systems provide viable alternatives to extractive legal frameworks.
Treaties, Living Law, and Defending Nature
This week focuses on treaty rights, protections for hunting and gathering, and the ways in which courts have both upheld and challenged these agreements. We will explore how treaty law functions as a living law and how it intersects with ecological responsibility and the advocacy for the Right of Nature.
From Vision to Action – Organizing for Legal Change
The final session focuses on practical strategies for organizing and implementing Rights of Nature policies. Participants will learn about coalition-building, youth leadership, community education, and pathways for advancing laws based on Indigenous knowledge.
Britt Gondolfi is a Cajun Creole Houma Descendant from Southeast Louisiana. After completing law school, Britt was hired to coordinate the Bioneers Indigeneity Program’s Rights of Nature in Indian Country Initiative. Before this, she conducted legal research to co-develop Bioneers’ Guide to Rights of Nature in Indian Country. Passionate about this subject matter, she earned the highest grade in her Federal Indian Law class at Loyola University of New Orleans. In 2024, she published her first children’s book, Look Up! Fontaine the Pigeon Starts a Revolution, a hilarious cautionary tale about screen use.
Guest speakers subject to change
