River Gets Rights: Tribe Gives Rappahannock River Power to Sue!
In a groundbreaking move, the Rappahannock Tribe in Virginia has become the first in the United States to grant legal rights to their namesake river – the Rappahannock. This unprecedented decision, enshrined in their tribal constitution in 2024, recognizes the river’s inherent right to exist, flourish, and maintain clean water, marking a significant step forward for environmental protection and Indigenous sovereignty.