"The world has not done an analysis to decide whether oil is more valuable than what is lost by destroying the Amazon. We have so much. In order to debate on an economic level, we would have to conduct a thorough study to find out how much the Amazon could give to the world. What they want here is easy money to pay the external debt to China and they will destroy the Amazon under this pretext." -Patricia Gualinga, Kichwa Community of Sarayaku, Ecuador.
Oil Round in southeastern Ecuador offers national and transnational companies 
about 3 million hectors of tropical forest which is home to seven indigenous nacionalides. The signing of contracts with oil companies is privista for October this year. Published on Mar 9, 2013

Produced by Pacha Producciones, Quito, Ecuador, 2013

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. 

April 4-6, 2012, the Indigenous Environmental Network hosted a profound 3 day Rights of Mother Earth Conference at Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence, Kansas. This is one selection of a presentation from the conference. More conference coverage is available on the IENearth YouTube Channel.

This video addresses closing remarks of conference:
Domination of and the destruction of the values of the land can be seen when our Indigenous Knowledge is ignored or not shared by all. If people are given a choice based on the reality of what happens to our world when we disregard for the systems that sustain us and what would be if we return to the ancient knowledge that sustained the people of this hemisphere for thousands of years.

Rights of Mother Earth International Indigenous Conference speech of Canadian, Clayton Thomas-Muller talks about Tar Sands and what it means to his people of this "science fiction nightmare."

Clayton Thomas-Muller, of the Mathais Colomb Cree Nation (Pukatawagan) in Northern Manitoba, Canada, is an activist for indigenous self-determination and environmental justice.

Rights of Mother Earth International Indigenous Conference -Ecuadorian Process Defending Indigenous Territories With Rights of Mother Earth: Patricia Gualinga Montalvo, Spiritual Indigenous Leader, Sarayaku, Ecuador.

The following video is Tata Erick Gonzalez' participation at a council held in the ceremonial site of Iximche. The council was part of a sacred pilgrimage to the ancient capital of the Cakchiquel on December 4th 2010.

Subtitled.