Indigenous Peoples Issues - Mining and the Environment: From Ore to Metal - page 670

There are many indigenous societies which have already lost most or all of their former
autonomy, having become completely dependent on government welfare or charity.
Communities in this situation commonly have a strong interest in breaking out of the
welfare cycle as a way of re-establishing independence, community pride, and self-respect
(Pearce and Uren 1996). A mining project may provide an ideal opportunity to lessen
dependency, and increase autonomy and self sufi ciency.
In either of these situations, the company may, at the request of the community
involved, assist in 'capacity building', by providing technical legal and i nancial advice
and training, Such assistance should consciously avoid the relatively common 'pitfall' that
authority is transferred from the indigenous leaders to the advisers, which defeats the pur-
pose of capacity building.
There are many aspects of planning, operating, and closure of a mining project that
are important in achieving the desired outcomes for Indigenous Peoples. The follow-
ing sections address the major ones and offer ways to address them which are consist-
ent with current effective practice. Whether or not a particular policy, procedure or
activity should be implemented in a particular situation should be based on local cir-
cumstances and, most particularly, on the wishes of the Indigenous Peoples who stand
to be affected.

Ethical Values and Attitudes

A clearly stated set of ethical values is the preferred basis for dealing with indigenous soci-
eties. Essential values are summarized as HIRE (after Cragg et al . 1997):

H onesty, including full disclosure of unpalatable or potentially deal-breaking
information;

I ntegrity, including honouring all commitments;

R espect for individuals and for traditional customs, rituals, values, and rules of behavi-
uor, however different these may be, and

E quity and fairness to all stakeholders, including involuntary stakeholders (i.e. those
not party to a mining agreement established with the local community but who at
some stage are affected by the operation)

Such values, communicated throughout a company and reinforced by consistent applica-
tion, will go a long way towards ensuring effective practice.
It needs to be recognized that there are many people who have negative percep-
tions or prejudices towards Indigenous Peoples. Such people pose a real threat to
relations between the company and the indigenous community. It is in the interests
of all concerned that companies should: (1) develop screening programmes to mini-
mize the chances of employing people with such prejudices in situations where they
can interact with Indigenous Peoples; and (2) require dismissal or transfer of any
employee who through his or her interactions with Indigenous Peoples demonstrates
such prejudice.
A particularly difi cult situation occurs in some multi-ethnic countries. The ethos
within the ruling elite in some countries may be distinctly antipathetic to some minori-
ties. The elite, socially advantaged group believes itself to be totally superior to Indigenous
Peoples, who they may treat very badly and to whom they show no respect. It may prove
impossible to avoid recruitment from the elite group as they may be the only qualii ed can-
didates, particularly for professional positions.

There are many people who
have negative perceptions or
prejudices towards Indigenous
Peoples.