GLOBAL INDIGENOUS: A New Zealand mountain now a person, legally
Deusdedit RuhangariyoSpecial to ICT
Around the world: Taranaki Maunga, a mountain in New Zealand, has been granted legal personhood, Rwanda initiates Heritage Forest project safeguarding ancient native trees, Kimberley Aboriginal Fashion Textiles runway returns in 2025, and a renowned Uyghur historian receives a 17-year prison sentence.
New Zealand has officially conferred legal personhood on a mountain for the first time, honoring its cultural significance to Māori tribes and establishing a precedent for enhanced environmental protection, Mongabay reported on February 20.
In January, a new law redefined Taranaki mountain on New Zealand's North Island. It will be known by its Māori name, Taranaki Maunga (maunga meaning mountain), replacing the colonial Mount Egmont. Likewise, Egmont National Park becomes Te Papa-Kura-o-Taranaki. The law also designates Taranaki Maunga and its adjacent peaks as a legal person, 'Te Kāhui Tupua,' with 'all the rights, powers, duties, responsibilities, and liabilities of a legal person.'
New Zealand has recently extended legal personhood to natural entities, including a rainforest, a river, as well as whales and dolphins. Environmental economist Viktoria Kahui of the University of Otago emailed Mongabay that while mountains like Mauna Kea in Hawaii – granted stewardship authority – and Mount Zizuma in Colombia – deemed sacred – enjoy legal status, these differ from full legal personhood.
For Taranaki's Māori, Taranaki Maunga is more than a mountain; it is an ancestor, 'a source of physical, cultural, and spiritual sustenance, and a final resting place.' In the 19th century, the British Crown purchased and confiscated land in Taranaki without Māori consent, prompting efforts to reclaim ancestral lands.
Kahui remarked that the law is 'a real testament to Māori in Taranaki who resisted and struggled against the wrongdoing of the Crown for well over [a] hundred years.'
Beyond its cultural value, the law provides a 'blueprint' for environmental protection by empowering Indigenous communities, as it 'acknowledges the special relationship between the Indigenous people of Taranaki and the Maunga.'
Although Te Kāhui Tupua is a nonhuman legal entity – similar to a legally recognized organization that can own property, enter contracts, and sue – Kahui noted, 'They do not have the same rights as human beings.'
The bill mandates that Te Tōpuni Kōkōrangi, a legal body comprising four local Māori iwi members and four individuals appointed by the minister of conservation, will represent Te Kāhui Tupua. Through this body, the mountain 'has a voice' and its interests are legally defended, with Kahui adding, 'That's unique.'
Amid global biodiversity loss driven by economic pressures, environmental legal personhood has empowered Indigenous tribes and local communities in places like New Zealand and Colombia to gain control over environmental stewardship.
Rwanda's legacy tree project, launched February 20 by Rwanda Forestry Authority and University of Rwanda's CoEB, aims to document, protect, and celebrate the nation's oldest, largest, and significant trees, Earth Rwanda reported on February 20.
Amidst Rwanda's rolling hills and expanding cities, many of the nation's oldest trees still stand – witnesses to generations of change. These legacy trees are vital for carbon sequestration, biodiversity conservation, and preserving Rwanda's cultural heritage. Yet, with urbanization and agriculture on the rise, these ancient giants face growing threats.
'The Legacy Tree Project is a crucial step in protecting Rwanda's remaining native trees,' said Dr. Concorde Nsengumuremyi, Director General of RFA, according to Earth Rwanda. 'By documenting these trees and recognizing their ecological and cultural value, we are ensuring that future generations will continue to benefit from their presence.'
This initiative goes beyond merely identifying trees – it's about sharing their stories. Conservationists and researchers will record the histories of these trees, involve local communities in their care, and even launch a Legacy Tree Tour. Managed by community members, this tour will promote eco-tourism while providing income to local households.
According to Beth Kaplin, Senior Researcher at CoEB, science and tradition must work together for success. 'By combining scientific research with traditional knowledge, the Legacy Tree Project will not only protect biodiversity but also strengthen the connection between people and nature,' she explained. 'These trees are living testaments to Rwanda's history, and through this initiative, we will ensure their stories are told and their benefits sustained.'
The project also aims to improve access to native seeds for forest restoration, enhance research and policy advocacy for tree conservation, raise public awareness about the ecological and cultural importance of legacy trees, and engage youth in hands-on stewardship programs.
One exciting aspect is its community-driven approach. Rwandans are encouraged to help identify and document legacy trees in their districts. If you come across an exceptionally large native tree – so immense that you can't wrap your arms around it – it might be a legacy tree. You can submit details online, contact a local District Forest or Environment Officer, or send an SMS with the tree's location. Experts will then verify its status, record its details, and ensure its protection.
Through the combined efforts of scientists, conservationists, and local communities, the Legacy Tree Project is set to become a cornerstone of Rwanda's commitment to sustainability and biodiversity conservation. It's not just about saving trees – it's about preserving a natural and cultural legacy for future generations.
The Kimberley Aboriginal Fashion Textiles Art runway makes a comeback on June 1, highlighting the growing excitement and participation in textile and fashion innovations across Western Australia and throughout the nation, National Indigenous Times reported on February 20.
The Kimberley Aboriginal Fashion and Textile Arts event has been a source of inspiration for Kimberley textile printers, fashion makers, designers, and creatives in performance and photography. Answering the call from local art professionals and regional communities for homegrown opportunities in the creative and fashion industries, Kimberley Aboriginal Fashion and Textile Arts established a platform for local talents to develop and showcase their innovations in fashion and textiles.
"KAFTA (Kimberley Aboriginal Fashion and Textile Arts) is back in 2025 to celebrate Kimberley Aboriginal fashion, textiles and creative industries over the June long weekend! Designers and artists, an EOI call out for collections and stalls is coming. Can't wait to see what everyone is creating for this year's runway," the Kimberley Aboriginal Fashion and Textile Arts team announced in a statement this week, according to National Indigenous Times.
Returning on Sunday, June 1, the Kimberley Aboriginal Fashion and Textile Arts runway will feature a fresh lineup of Kimberley Aboriginal fashion, textiles, and live performances. On Monday, June 2, the Kimberley Aboriginal Fashion and Textile Arts Pop Up Fashion Fair will give consumers the opportunity to purchase directly from Kimberley creatives in Broome.
Details on participating designers and art canters are yet to be announced.
Brodie George, founder of Jalayimiya Swim and a proud First Nations fashion designer who participated in the 2024 runway, emphasized the event's positive impact on both the community and its designers. "I was very emotional on the day and the days leading up to it watching all the prep. KAFTA (Kimberley Aboriginal Fashion and Textile Arts) has such a great impact on our community and this event will definitely be a highlight of the year for all involved," she said.
Part of the Broome Fringe Festival, Kimberley Aboriginal Fashion and Textile Arts events have showcased Kimberley community-led experiences by presenting 13 clothing collections, featuring work by 53 artists, engaging 78 young Indigenous models, and including 52 Indigenous performers. Remarkably, Kimberley Aboriginal Fashion and Textile Arts is entirely Kimberley-run, relying on local businesses for equipment and event services.
A renowned Uyghur historian and expert in Uyghur toponyms is currently serving a 17-year prison sentence due to his writings, according to sources familiar with the matter, Radio Free Asia reported on February 21.
Ghojaniyaz Yollugh Tekin, 59, previously an educator at the Aksu Education Institute in China's far-western Xinjiang region, focused his research and publications on Uyghur toponymy – the linguistic evolution of place names and the historical and geographical reasons for them.
A police officer from Tekin's village in Aksu prefecture's Uchturpan county informed Radio Free Asia that Tekin had been sentenced to 17 years and is serving his sentence in Hotan, approximately 500 kilometers (310 miles) south of Aksu city.
Tekin was detained in 2017 during the Chinese government's mass roundup of Uyghurs and other Turkic peoples in Xinjiang, according to a list of imprisoned Uyghur intellectuals compiled by Norway-based researcher Abduweli Ayup.
Tekin received his prison sentence in late 2018 for his research, writings, and views that Uyghurs are part of the Turkic world – and not Chinese – according to Ayup's data.
Among the estimated 1.8 million Uyghurs, including intellectuals, teachers, cultural figures, and prominent businesspeople, who were forced into re-education camps, Tekin was notable for his influential historical research and writings. He actively participated in intellectual gatherings and debates in Uyghur society, said his friend Tuyghun Abduweli, an activist now living in Canada.
Chinese state security agents often harassed Tekin after he gained significant recognition for his writings on sensitive historical topics concerning Uyghurs' connection with the Turkic world, Abduweli said.
My final thoughts are in New Zealand where a decision to recognize Taranaki Maunga as a legal person is nothing short of inspiring. By renaming this cherished mountain with its original Māori name and establishing it as Te Kāhui Tupua – with 'all the rights, powers, duties, responsibilities, and liabilities of a legal person' – the law beautifully honors the deep-rooted connection between the Māori people and their ancestral land.
This gesture not only reclaims the mountain's true identity after a long history of colonial imposition but also serves as a powerful symbol of resistance. It stands as a heartfelt tribute to a community's resilience and a reminder of the enduring value of indigenous wisdom.
What makes this initiative even more remarkable is its forward-thinking approach to environmental protection. This not only paves the way for better environmental stewardship but also empowers Indigenous communities to take an active role in protecting their natural heritage.
In a world facing growing environmental challenges and biodiversity loss, New Zealand's model offers a refreshing and transformative blueprint. Other nations should take note: Integrating indigenous perspectives and granting legal personhood to natural entities can help address historical injustices while fostering sustainable relationships with our environment.
Embracing this innovative approach is more than just a legal reform – it's a commitment to honoring cultural heritage and preserving nature for future generations. Let New Zealand's example inspire a global movement toward environmental justice and cultural reconciliation.
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