Indigenous Peoples

(In cooperation with Mining Policy Research Initiative of the International Development Research Centre, MPRI/IDRC, MMSD South America’s coordinator for participation activities, Ambiente y Sociedad, MMSD South America’s national partner organisation in Ecuador, and AMEEF, MMSD Australia)

Many of the world's richest land in mineral, energy and biodiversity resources have traditionally been occupied by indigenous peoples. In the past there have been incidences of displacement and land disputes associated with mining activities. Though mining projects can bring jobs, roads, schools and health clinics to remote and impoverished areas, these benefits may be perceived as poor recompense for the loss or damage to indigenous cultures.

Political liberalisation, allied to a more consensual approach to resolving land use conflicts, is adding a new dimension to this issue. Indigenous peoples have been gaining increasing power over the incidence of projects in their lands and have achieved important recognition in international agreements:

Collective right to consultation prior to any project planning in their lands (ILO Convention 169)
The inclusion of operational guidelines for loans for projects in indigenous land (World Bank, OD 4.20)
Right to mobilise themselves as indigenous groups

¡En español!

Though indigenous peoples are very diverse throughout the world and the indigenous experiences vary from country to country, understanding their perspective on the production of minerals and metals is key in the context of sustainable development.

MMSD hosted a preparatory meeting and workshop to discuss mining issues with indigenous people on 27-28 September 2001 in Quito, Ecuador. The broad aim of the meeting was to facilitate discussion of the critical issues surrounding the relationships between indigenous peoples and the mining, minerals and metals sector and to build on progress made by indigenous peoples in the regional MMSD processes and in other instances. The workshop addressed the potential for positive change that will better serve the interests of indigenous people in their associations with the mining sector. Click here for more on this meeting.

A second workshop was held on 4-6 February 2002 in Perth, Australia. Click here for more on this meeting.

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Available Documents

MMSD South America:
Minutes of the workshops that have taken place with indigenous peoples as part of MMSD South America's participation process. (Available in Spanish)

Bolivia 1	Chile 1	Ecuador 1	Peru 1
Bolivia 2		Ecuador 2
		Ecuador 3

Events

Indigenous People and Relationships with the Mining Sector - Preparatory Meeting and Workshop
28-29 Sept 2001 Quito, Ecuador
Hosted by MMSD, MPRI/IDRC & Ambiente y Sociedad

Report

Informe en español

Indigenous People and Mining Workshop
4-6 February 2002 Perth, Australia
Hosted by MMSD & AMEEF

Report

MMSD Working Papers related to this activity:

Bastida, Elizabeth
Integrating Sustainable Development into the Legal Mining Frameworks of some Latin American Countries

report
(PDF 393KB)

Downing, Theodore, E; Moles, Jerry; McIntosh, Ian; Garcia-Downing, Carmen
Indigenous Peoples and Mining: Strategies and Tactics for Encounters

report
(PDF 404KB)

Warden-Fernandez, Janeth
Indigenous Support Services/ACIL Agreements Between Mining Companies and Indigenous Communities