Pemadeshkodeyong
Rice Lake:
A historic decision in Ontario

On November 18, 2025, the Alderville First Nation, in partnership with the International Observatory on the Rights of Nature, officially announced the recognition of the legal personality and rights of Pemadeshkodeyong/Rice Lake.

This recognition positions Pemadeshkodeyong/Rice Lake no longer as a mere resource, but as a subject of intrinsic rights. This decision aims to strengthen the protection of this ecosystem, while recognizing the deep connections between the community and the lake. This is a first in Ontario, paving a powerful and inspiring path for other communities. 

Rooted in Anishinaabe law and philosophy, the resolution affirms that all beings are alive and sacred (pimaatiziwin) and that humans have reciprocal responsibilities to water, land, and all our more-than-human kin. The waters, wetlands, and entire ecosystem of Pimadashkodeyong/Rice Lake play a vital role in maintaining biodiversity, ecological balance, carbon storage, climate regulation, and the physical, cultural, and spiritual well-being of the Anishinaabe and surrounding communities.