Earth Law: North America

Earth Law in North America is an emerging field rooted in Indigenous knowledge, environmental justice, and the global Rights of Nature movement. Legal scholars, advocacy groups, and academic institutions are challenging human-centric legal traditions by arguing the case that ecosystems, animals, and natural entities have inherent rights. Landmark efforts—such as the Lake Erie Bill of Rights, bison personhood proposals in Canada, and the White Earth Band of the Ojibwe granting rights to manoomin, or wild rice—reveal both public and legal support for Earth-centered governance. Bridging legal theory, eco-justice, and spiritual ethics, Earth Law promotes systemic transformation through litigation, grassroots organizing, and policy reform. Together, these activities signal a profound shift toward legal systems that reflect ecological interdependence, community self-determination, and the intrinsic value of all life.