From the Mountains to the Sea: The Youth-Led Resolution Protecting Longperson
By Maeve Kiley
Longperson (or vwi Ganvhida) is an interconnected waterway system that starts in the Great Smoky Mountains and travels down 790 miles to the Gulf of Mexico. The river is sacred in Cherokee culture, providing drink, cleanliness, and housing a diverse, healthy ecosystem.
Cherokee tradition teaches a tribal relationship with the river. The river nourishes and heals the community and, in turn, the Cherokee tribe protects the entirety of the river from the head resting in the mountains and feet touching the sea. Many Cherokee traditions and rituals tied to medicine, grief, and cleansing involve Longperson.
Longperson is seen as a living relative by the Cherokee for thousands of years, but on January 8, 2026, the Council of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians officially granted Longperson legal personhood and protections. This legislation was spearheaded and championed by the NAIWA Daughters, an all-female youth group from the North American Indian Women’s Association.
The local chapter was founded in Cherokee, North Carolina, by Founder and Chair, Jasmine Smith, to focus on Indigenous leadership development, cultural enrichment, community service, and environmental activism for girls and young women ages 10 to 18. NAIWA’s vision is to foster a strong, interconnected network of empowerment and uplift Indigenous communities by preserving heritage and advocacy work. They worked tirelessly for 18 months engaging communities through outreach, researching the diverse ecosystems Longperson supports, and meeting with tribal leaders in delegation. This resolution marks the first all-female-led environmental rights effort in United States History. It is the second youth-led effort of its kind passed by a Tribal Nation.
The Longperson resolution states, “in Cherokee tradition, the waterways are known as the Longperson, a living, conscious being whose head begins in the mountains and whose feet stretch to the sea. The Longperson is a sacred presence, offering life, guidance, healing, and protection to our people.” The resolution reflects an environmental worldview where the preservation of the waterways are essential to intergenerational connection and cultural preservation.
The resolution also declares that recognition of the personhood of ecosystems is a necessary step towards achieving sustainability. Climate Change impacts are affecting cultures around the world, but the protections granted to Longperson will ensure ecological sustainability for generations.
NAIWA Daughters advocacy work does not end with Longperson. Smith has presented NAIWA Daughters work at major, global platforms, including the Bioneers Conference in California and a United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) side event. NAIWA Daughters is also calling for the creation of a Tribal Rights of Nature Task Force to advocate for environmental protect, plan implementation, and uplift community voices.
Tribal Nations have adopted rights of nature laws to ecosystems across the world. Over 30 U.S. cities and counties have been inspired by the Tribal efforts and tried to pass similar local ordinances to establish legal personhood to specific ecosystems, yet none have passed. Many of these local laws face heavy resistance revolving around federal skepticism and jurisdictional barriers regarding private property.
However, NAIWA Daughters have proved the impact of advocacy and the importance of community outreach. The growing devastation caused by climate change and the loss of land from development prove that the time for action is now. NAIWA Daughters serve as a powerful reminder to all that championing environmental issues and campaigning for the earth are not just possible, but crucial for ensuring stability for future generations.
Works Cited:
Abulu, Latoya. “Cherokee Youth Win Legal Rights for Waterway in First All-Female U.S. Effort.” Conservation News, 3 Sept. 2026, news.mongabay.com/2026/09/cherokee-girls-win-legal-rights-for-waterway-in-first-all-female-u-s-effort/.
American Rivers. “Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Honoring Long Person Day with a River Cleanup.” American Rivers, 23 Sept. 2026, www.americanrivers.org/2021/10/eastern-band-of-cherokee-indians-honoring-long-person-day-with-a-river-cleanup/.
Bordow, Scott. “What If Nature Had Legal Rights?” What If Nature Had Legal Rights? | ASU News, news.asu.edu/20220825-global-engagement-what-if-nature-had-legal-rights. Accessed 1 Oct. 2026.
Gondolfi, Britt. “Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Pass Historic Youth-Led Rights of Nature Resolution.” Bioneers, 8 Apr. 2026, bioneers.org/eastern-band-of-cherokee-resolution/.
“Groundbreaking Women-Led Rights of Nature Resolution Passed by Eastern Band Cherokee.” Earth Law Center, Earth Law Center, 30 Jan. 2026, www.earthlawcenter.org/blog-entries/2026/1/groundbreaking-women-led-rights-of-nature-resolution-passed-by-eastern-band-cherokee.
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