Interview with Norie Huddle, who successfully sued on behalf of the Vilcabamba river (still)

This artwork is part of the River Voices project which includes several rivers and bodies of water as participants in the 23rd Biennale of Sydney. Members of the communities associated with them, custodians, and people involved in their protection speak on their behalf, in short videos addressing climate issues and rights of protection. Visitors are greeted by one of these voices at each of the exhibition venues.

In 2008, the Political Constitution of Ecuador recognised 'Nature or Pacha Mama, where life is reproduced and carried out, has the right to have its existence and the maintenance and regeneration of its vital cycles, structure, functions and evolutionary processes fully respected.'

In 2011, the Provincial Court of Loja ruled in favour of the Vilcabamba River because its rights were being violated by the local government.