If a river is declared a legal “person” — can it talk, remember, feel?

If a river is declared a legal “person” — can it talk, remember, feel?

From Big Ideas by ABC Australia

July 6, 2026 · 55 min

About this episode

The episode explores the concept of rivers as living entities with rights and the implications for environmental justice and Indigenous law.

What if the way we think about rivers as resources to be allocated, infrastructure to be managed, problems to be solved, is just fundamentally wrong. What if they are in fact living entities with rights? From Indigenous law to ecological soundscapes to frontline water justice, this panel of Indigenous leaders, scientists and artists share stories, sounds and strategies for protecting and changing your relationships with waterways. River Listening was recorded live at the annual 2026 WOMADelaide festival , produced and presented as part of their Planet Talks program, held on the traditional lands of the Guarna people. Listen to Big Ideas – Students win fight for climate justice before the world's highest court Speakers Dr Dan Hikuroa Māori earth systems scientist, Associate Professor at the University of Auckland, UNESCO NZ Commissioner for Culture Grant Rigney Ngarrindjeri man, current Deputy Chair and past Chair of the Murray Lower Darling Rivers Indigenous Nations (MLDRIN) Dr Leah Barclay Award-winning sound artist, researcher and environmental activist Jo Shulman (host)CEO of the Environmental Defenders Office

People in this episode

Host: Jo Shulman

Guests: Dr Dan Hikuroa, Grant Rigney, Dr Leah Barclay

Topics covered

Keywords

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: University of Auckland, UNESCO, Environmental Defenders Office

Places: Guarna

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