| In recent decades, mining activities – particularly by Canadian companies – have expanded dramatically in Latin America and the Caribbean. Increasingly, these activities are taking place on or near the ancestral lands of Indigenous Peoples. While there is a heightened awareness of the need for Indigenous Peoples to meaningfully participate in processes of consultation and decision-making in order for equitable development to take place and conflict to be minimized, there is a dearth of understanding regarding what Indigenous Peoples themselves view as appropriate processes, mechanisms and policies to enable this participation. This multi-country collaborative research project between The North-South Institute (NSI), the Amerindian Peoples Association of Guyana (APA), the National Organization of Indigenous Peoples of Colombia (ONIC), the National Afro-Colombian Organization (PCN) and The Association of Indigenous Village Leaders in Suriname (VIDS), among other partners, seeks to enhance understanding on these important issues.
Phase I of the research (2000-2002) scoped Indigenous perspectives on consultation and decision-making within the mining sectors of Latin America, the Caribbean and Canada, and revealed that Indigenous Peoples view themselves not just as stakeholders to be consulted, but as rights-holders. They highlighted that truly inclusive decision-making required the strengthening of Indigenous organizations and leadership, as well as outreach with governments and companies toward the entrenchment of Indigenous rights in consultations around natural resources, particularly the right to give or withhold their free, prior and informed consent. To view the complete description and outputs of Phase I.
Phase II (2004-2011 will use and build on the results and recommendations of Phase I through a number of participatory approaches, including multi-party roundtables, community workshops and capacity-building activities. It will be guided primarily by Indigenous Advisory Committees established in each of the countries.
The general objective of the project is to facilitate, document and analyze efforts to strengthen the capacities of Indigenous Peoples to engage with government, industry and other relevant actors. This is being undertaken through training, logistical support and the creation of venues for multi-party dialogue, along with other activities, with a view to enabling more equitable extractive outcomes, policies and practices that respect the processes, aspirations and rights of Indigenous Peoples in natural resources decisions affecting their lands.
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