Reclaiming Our Great Lakes Commons

Artist Ricardo Levins Morales

South Bend, Indiana - On September 30 through October 2, an inspiring gathering of indigenous leaders, environmentalists, social justice organizers, cultural workers and artists, students, youth, policy advocates, public trust lawyers, and academics engaged together to envision and begin advancing a multicultural trans-border movement for the stewardship of our shared bioregion, the Great Lakes.

We talked about the need to realign human laws with the laws of nature. The fundamental basis of the public trust doctrine and how treaty rights weave significantly into this framework. Our common narrative, starting within our stregnthening communities, not the top down. Realizing not only our rights, but responsibilities to care for these waters.