Indigenous Approaches to International Law

Indigenous Approaches to International Law

Author: Environmental Law Institute October 8, 2025 Duration: 50:37

What does it mean to “indigenize” international law—and why does it matter for the environment?

 

In this episode of People, Places, Planet, host Sebastian Duque Rios speaks with legal scholars Jonathan Liljeblad, Kristen Carpenter, and Margaret Palaghicon Von Rotz about how Indigenous peoples are reshaping international legal thought. Together, they explore the concept of Indigenous legal orders—living systems of law that exist alongside and often in tension with state-based international law—and their growing influence in environmental governance. From the Ifugao people’s stewardship of the Philippines’ rice terraces to the Yurok Tribe’s river restoration and land back efforts in California, the conversation highlights how Indigenous nations are asserting legal authority across state borders, revitalizing relationships to land and water, and challenging colonial legacies in our legal systems.

 

This episode offers a powerful look at what international law could become when Indigenous legal systems are recognized as active, evolving sources of law shaping the planet’s future.

★ Support this podcast ★

Produced by the Environmental Law Institute, People Places Planet is a conversation grounded in the practical realities of environmental stewardship. This podcast moves beyond abstract theory to explore how laws, policies, and innovative governance models are actively applied. Each episode features discussions with practitioners, scientists, legal experts, and community leaders who are directly engaged in crafting and implementing solutions. You’ll hear nuanced analysis on the intersection of business, regulation, and education, focusing on tangible outcomes rather than just identifying problems. The dialogue consistently centers on how complex frameworks operate in the real world, affecting specific communities, ecosystems, and industries. Listening provides a deeper understanding of the mechanisms that drive environmental progress and the challenges that arise at the intersection of human activity and planetary health. It’s an essential resource for anyone curious about the foundational rules and creative strategies shaping our relationship with the environment, offering clarity on the legal and policy threads woven through every environmental issue. Tune in for thoughtful, expert-driven perspectives that connect the dots between policy texts and their impact on the ground.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

People Places Planet
Podcast Episodes
The Enforcement Angle: Corporate Compliance Monitors [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:47
Increasingly, independent third parties—better known as “corporate compliance monitors”--are appointed to oversee a company’s compliance following the settlement of a criminal or, sometimes, civil enforcement case. Justi…
Women & Water [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:51
International Women’s Day is a global holiday celebrated annually on March 8 to bring attention to issues such as gender equality, reproductive rights, and violence and abuse against women. One women’s issue that is ofte…
The Enforcement Angle: The New Mexico Environment Department [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:07
With its deeply forested mountains, unique rock formations, vast plains, and moonlike deserts, New Mexico—the fifth largest state of the nation—boasts a unique landscape. Tasked with protecting and restoring the environm…
National Wetlands Award Feature: Wetlands Watch [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:16
ELI’s Georgia Ray speaks with Ross Weaver, the Program Assistant Director for Wetlands Watch, in this first in a series of episodes highlighting the incredible work of wetland heroes throughout the country.
ELI 2022 Year in Review [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:49
John Pendergrass, ELI’s Vice President of Programs and Publications, and Sandy Thiam, Associate Vice President of Research & Policy, share highlights from ELI’s research department in 2022 as well as a preview of what’s…

«1...678910