Granting legal personhood to natural phenomena is a critical paradigm shift that offers a beacon of hope for the planet by recognizing that nature has an inherent right to exist outside of what it can do for us. This relatively new legal precedent is part of a global movement, spearheaded by indigenous peoples from around the world, that has the potential to be a complete game changer for conservation efforts. Ships have legal personhood, so do corporations and charities so why not grant these same rights to rivers and forests? By granting the right of Legal Personhood to the Magpie River, Canada joins an elite set of countries that includes Chile, Australia, Bolivia and New Zealand that have formally recognized the inherent value of nature.

The majestic Magpie River in Northern Quebec summersaults through sheer granite cliffs and spills into deep river gorges amid an ancient boreal forest. This is the story of a remarkable river, the animals that call it home and the unique way a band of locals found to protect a true force of nature.