Indigenous Peoples Issues - Mining and the Environment: From Ore to Metal - page 651

16

Indigenous Peoples Issues

Respecting the Differences

Public attitudes towards the extractive industries continue to change rapidly.
For the mining industry, this is accentuating the importance of establishing and
monitoring good community relations, and emphasizing the essential role of local
communities as key stakeholders in any project. Nowhere is this more important
than where Indigenous Peoples are involved. This chapter aims to advance
appropriate and effective practices in relation to Indigenous Peoples.

For most of modern mining history, the industry has been involved to a greater or lesser extent
in dealing with aboriginal people - in Canada, Australia, western USA, and parts of Africa.
Over the past decade, Australian, Canadian, American, and South African companies have
also been developing mines in other countries. Many of these operations involve contact and
interaction with Indigenous Peoples. While there are many similarities in the issues associated
with Indigenous Peoples from different countries, there are also many differences. Therefore,
this chapter cannot and should not be prescriptive. Rather, it sets out some basic principles and
guidance which can provide an overall approach, together with some useful insights.
This chapter looks at issues involving Indigenous Peoples (IP) and the mining indus-
try and includes both constructive advice and warnings based on project experience. It
deals with the rights of Indigenous Peoples and the responsibilities of the industry towards
these peoples. Likewise, mining companies also have rights and Indigenous Peoples have
responsibilities; however, these are largely beyond the scope of this publication.
Most of the issues raised in this chapter also apply to varying degrees to non-indigenous
societies. However, issues such as land acquisition, communication with local communi-
ties, and workforce recruitment, are likely to be far more challenging and, at the same
time, more critical where indigenous communities are involved.

For most of modern mining
history, the industry has been
involved to a greater or lesser
extent in dealing with aboriginal
people.

Issues such as land acquisition,
communication with local
communities, and workforce
recruitment, are likely to be far
more challenging and, at the
same time, more critical where
indigenous communities are
involved.

16.1 WHO ARE INDIGENOUS PEOPLES?

There is no one, universal dei nition of 'Indigenous Peoples'. The term refers sometimes to
those people regarded as the 'original inhabitants' of an area, such as the American Indians