TURNERS FALLS — Song, poetry and testimony will flow freely at the Shea Theater Arts Center on Saturday as environmental advocates protest FirstLight Hydro Generating Co.’s operations on the Connecticut River.

The Connecticut River Defenders’ “A People’s Hearing: The Rights of Nature” is intended “to hear testimony about the way the rights of nature with respect to the Connecticut River are being violated,” according to the organization’s event announcement. The hearing, which will run from 3 to 5 p.m., invites “some of those most knowledgeable about and most affected by the operation of the Northfield Mountain Pumped Storage Station.” Testimony will be evaluated by four “judges,” who will “render findings and remedies based upon the testimony given.”

FirstLight, which operates a hydro-pump facility at Northfield Mountain and two hydroelectric dams in Turners Falls, has been negotiating a comprehensive settlement agreement with stakeholders since their licenses expired on April 30, 2018. Their operations have been criticized by environmental advocacy groups for impacts on fish, the Connecticut River and surrounding environment.

Members of the Connecticut River Defenders say Saturday’s hearing “will allow the public to decide for themselves whether the Connecticut River and its ecosystem have the ‘right’ to live and thrive and whether FirstLight will be granted a ‘social license’ to operate.” Conway resident Priscilla Lynch, a member of the advocacy group, described a “social license” as permission from the general public to operate.

“What do the people have to say?” Lynch wondered. “We want the people to know they have a voice.”

Testimony will be presented by Glen Ayers, a retired public health agent and co-host of The Enviro Show; Annette Spaulding, a “master diver” of the Connecticut River; Bill Stubblefield, an ecologist and evolutionary biologist with the Wendell State Forest Alliance; local children who are concerned about the environment; and more.

Climate Action Now Coordinator Susan Theberge will serve as the “prosecutor.” Testimony will be judged by Joel Kupferman of the National Lawyers Guild; Nathan Phillips of the Consumer Liaison Group to ISO New England; Naia Tenerowicz of the Springfield Climate Justice Coalition; and Adabu Brownhill Jefwa, a youth representative with the National Farmers Union and La Via Campesina.

A short entertainment program will take place during the judges’ deliberations. Entertainment will include poet Nnimmo Bassey, a co-recipient of the Right Livelihood Award; singer/songwriter Ben Grosscup; singer/songwriter Annie Patterson; and local children performing poems and songs. The judges’ findings will be shared with those in attendance afterwards.

Also making a special guest appearance will be Liz Coldwind Santana Kiser, an elder, councilwoman and tribal historic preservation officer for the Chaubunagungamaug Band of Nipmuc Indians.

“Indigenous folks have a way of looking at life and the Earth and having reverence for it, not seeing it as a commodity and not exploiting it,” Lynch said of the importance of having Indigenous representation at the hearing.

Reach Julian Mendoza at 413-930-4231 or jmendoza@recorder.com.