The Rights of Nature also referred to as the Rights of Mother Earth is a worldwide movement creating human communities that respect and defend the rights of nature.

Didier Lacaze was interviewed by videographer Barry Heidt of Sustainability Action Media (SAM) as part of an online video campaign to increase the Indigenous Voices of Sustainability, co-sponsored by Ruth Ann Barrett of EarthSayers.tv, focusing on wisdom keepers of Ecuador with the help of the Pachamama Alliance.  Editing support by Norman Austin of SAM.

Didier with Rosa Canalos (Kichwa) founded the Sacha Warmi Center—an educational resource that will serve many people—located on the outskirts of the Amazonian Rainforest in the Pastaza region of Ecuador. It is part of PROMETRA (Promoción de la Medicina Tradicional Amazónica), a local Ecuadorian initiative created in 2005 by Didier and Rosa who was born in the village of Canelos and is Didier's wife.

Watch and vote for "Honor the Treaties," a short documentary film about photographer Aaron Huey's relationship with the Pine Ridge Reservation and how his involvement with Native American rights has changed the way he conveys his story.

To cast your vote, visit http://www.pbs.org/filmfestival/vote/

This is an EarthSayers Radio interview of videographer, Barry Heidt on his upcoming journey to Ecuador to interview indigenous leaders who speak on behalf of Mother Earth. His three week  journey begins on February 2, 2013 by connecting with Pachamama Alliance's David Tucker, director of Pachamama Journeys, and Ecuadorian Natalia Greene, director of Fundación Pachamama's program on Rights of Nature, to collaborate on the specifics of his journey.  Images used to illustrate Barry's story are from the Websites of the Pachamama Alliance and Rights of Nature. The image of Larry Merculieff is from the EarthDay 2012 Conference, Earth & Spirit Council, Portland, Oregon. 

Individuals and organizations wishing to collaborate with and support Barry Heidt's journey may contact him directly at 541-992-4230. 

Medicine man, performer, and drum master Steven Toya talks about the gift of the power of the drum, the Native American teachings around the drum, and the role of the drum in healing.  The drums he makes are available from the Washpa Production Company in Zia Pueblo, New Mexico. His family, the Southern Slam Dancers and Singers, performed at the Seed Graduate Institute conference held in Albuquerque, New Mexico in September of 2012.

Mr. Toya was filmed and interviewed by Barry Heidt of Sustainability Action Media (SAM).

Lisa Kristine, a fine arts photographer, talks about how her childhood led to seeking out indigenous knowledge through her photography of people, interconnected as we are, and all sharing the gift of our first breadthe. She has documented indigenous cultures all over the world. You may also want to view her presentation on "Illuminating the World on Modern Day Slavery" here on EarthSayers.

TEDx presentation by CalicoCanyan.

Ryan Red Corn (Osage) is the co-chairman of NVision, a Native run non-profit youth media organization headquartered in Denver. Red Corn attended the University of Kansas, where he graduated in 2003 with a B.F.A in graphic design.

The social aspects of stereotyping are explored in a New York Times article, It's Not Me, It's You in their Gray Matter Section, October 7, 2012, on the "stereotype threat" the literature on the subject  showing that even alone in an exam room, we hear a chorus of voices appraising, evaluating, passing judgment. And as social creatures, humans are strongly affected by what these voices say." Ryan Red Corn is presenting us with a view of the force of the stereotype threat on his people.

Celebracion del Wajxaqib Baatz 27 de Marzo 2012 Belejeb Tzi Guatemala

Don Alejandro Cirilo Pérez, Wakatel Utiw (Wandering Wolf), is Quiche Maya from the highlands of Guatemala. Wandering Wolf serves as: leader of the National Mayan Council of Elders of Guatemala; Day Keeper of the Mayan Calendar; 13th generation Quiche Mayan Spiritual Leader; a founder and Grand Elder of the Continental Council of Elders & Spiritual Guides of the Americas; Extraordinary Ambassador in the Guatemalan government representing the indigenous pueblos; and an international lecturer on Mayan culture.His mathematical provenance extends to the traditional and elegant mathematics of the Mayan Long Count Calendar, which culminates in the Mayan year “Zero,” or approximately 2012 in the Gregorian calendar. Grandfather Cirilo holds the great honor of keeping sacred the teachings, visions, ceremonies and prophecies of the Maya people.

I AC TAH , a descendant of the men of maayab of the eastern part of Yucatan state, come from the lineage TAH CANCHE Baak and AC . Through the teachings of my grandparents and Baak Huchin BEE HAT , I learned that after 5125 years the earth with other planets create a perfect alignment to develop ourselves as beings of light, therefore we live in a historical time to create a conducive new state of consciousness where humans can live in harmony and balance. So, I am currently doing a tour around the country promoting awareness awakening to the return of the Maya foretold by my ancestors.

A 10 minute film about the work of Honor the Earth featuring the music of John Trudell.

Honor the Earth is a Native-led organization, established by Winona LaDuke (Anishinaabe) and Indigo Girls Amy Ray and Emily Saliers, in 1993 to address the two primary needs of the Native environmental movement: the need to break the geographic and political isolation of Native communities and the need to increase financial resources for organizing and change.

More Wisdom Keepers in our collection here.

Vernon Masayesva is a Hopi Leader of the Coyote Clan, and the Chairman of the Hopi Tribal Council. In the Fall of 2005, Dr. Masaru Emoto, author of "Message From Water" visited Hopi Land, Arizona. Here he is introduces Dr. Emoto author of The Hidden Messages of Water. To order his book from Amazon, click on the image or visit your local bookstore. Thank you.

He will be presenting on Sunday afternoon, September 16, at the Wisdom from the Origins Conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The title of his presentation is “Sipaapuni — Emergence to the Fourth World of the Hopi.”

A Culture Collective Video shot by Yakima Lee, and edited by Jacob Devaney.