Indigenous Peoples Issues - Mining and the Environment: From Ore to Metal - page 661

their interlocutors from the company. By approaching the indigenous community as their
partners, mining companies can prepare the psychological ground for mutual compromise
and mutual benei t.

Recognizing Cultural Difference

Experience from projects around the world coni rms that unless a proper participatory,
consultative approach is undertaken with stakeholders through all stages, projects will
encounter problems. Success requires more than just going through the right motions and
employing the correct procedures. The additional requirement is a fundamental under-
standing by mining companies and their key personnel.
At the outset, it is absolutely critical to understand that all cultures are equally valid.
Culture is a human construct by which communities make sense of reality. Cultures differ
given the circumstances in which they grow and evolve. There are very many different cul-
tures and, correspondingly, there are very many different versions of reality. Therefore, not all
people perceive the world and events the same way, yet each worldview is equally justii able
and real. This must be understood and appreciated if one is to deal successfully with people
of different cultural backgrounds. Of course, many people will not agree with or subscribe to
these statements. The point here is that such people are unlikely to treat Indigenous Peoples
with respect, and should therefore not be involved in dealing with Indigenous Peoples.
There are many dei nitions of culture, but all have common threads. Here are four:

Not all people perceive the
world and events the same way,
yet each worldview is equally
justifi able and real.

●

It is all the accepted and patterned ways of behaviour of a given people. It is a body of
common understanding. It is the sum total and the organization or arrangement of the
group's ways of thinking, feeling, and acting. 'Every people has a culture and no indi-
vidual can live without culture'. (Man and Culture, Ina C. Brown).

●

'Culture is that complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, cus-
toms and other capabilities or habits acquired by members of a society.' (E.B. Taylor).

●

'The sum total of ways of living built up by a group of human beings, which is trans-
mitted from one generation to another.' (The Macquarie Encyclopedic Dictionary).

●

'The way we do things around here.' (Anon).

Finally, it is now widely accepted that the cultures and special knowledge of Indigenous
Peoples are rare and valued aspects of the human tapestry. The fragility of these cultures
and their relevance as a window to an appreciation of ancient human societies is rel ected
in the inclusion of traditional cultural values as criteria for World Heritage listing of areas
(e.g. Kakadu, Australia). Also, the value of this ancient knowledge is only beginning to
be appreciated in modern society, for example through recent discovery of the medicinal
effectiveness of tribal herbal remedies, or by more sensitive knowledge of the ecosystems
and the interactions within them.

Assess and Establish the Values of the Company

The i rst essential step is to evaluate the values and attitudes of the company and its key
personnel towards Indigenous Peoples, identii able cultural groups, and local communi-
ties. The company needs to ensure from the outset that it will approach stakeholders and
all external parties with an appropriate attitude and value system that will allow for:
●

The fi rst essential step is to
evaluate the values and attitudes
of the company and its key
personnel towards Indigenous
Peoples.

A belief in openness and dialogue in its dealings with other parties;

●

An understanding of the hopes and aspirations of Indigenous Peoples;