The document discusses the importance of free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC) for indigenous peoples. FPIC is grounded in indigenous rights to sovereignty and self-determination, and provides equity in decision making over development projects that impact indigenous lands and resources. The document also discusses examples where FPIC was not properly obtained, including the Juukan Gorge incident in Australia and threats to indigenous lands from mining and energy transition metal projects in the United States.

1. GLF Presentation
November 2022

2. Why is FPIC Important for Indigenous Peoples?
● Grounded in Indigenous Peoples’
inherent right to Sovereignty and
Self-Determination
● Provides equity in decision-making
and participation as to
development that impacts people
and resources
● FPIC is supported throughout the
United Nations Declaration on the
Rights of Indigenous Peoples
(UNDRIP)

3. FPIC is Social License to Operate
● FPIC is key to a social license to
operate, one of the greatest risks
to mining projects
● Community disruptions can cost
mining projects $20 to $30 million
a week
● Operationalization of FPIC
identifies and helps to address
and prevent business risks that
stem from social conflict and
human rights violations

4. Juukan Gorge
● In 2020, Rio Tinto blasted a cultural
heritage site at Jukkan Gorge in Australia
on the land of the Puutu Kunti Kurrama
and Pinikura peoples.
● The caves had shown evidence of
continuous human habitation dating back
46,000 years.
● Despite Rio Tinto’s claims that it
completed FPIC, the company only
presented the local community with four
options of development.
● Caves sat above 8 million tons of high-
grade iron ore

5. Dakota Access Pipeline

6. Transition Minerals & Indigenous Peoples
● In the United States
specifically, 97% of
nickel, 89% of copper,
79% of lithium, and
67% of cobalt are
found within 35 miles
of Native American
reservations.
Via Mining Energy-Transition Metals: National Aims,
Local Conflicts - MSCI

7. Threats to Indigenous Peoples in the U.S.
● Anishinaabe (Talon Metals)
● Apache-Stronghold (Resolution Copper)
● Bristol Bay (Pebble Mine)
● Fort Yuma Quechan Indian Tribe (Lithium Valley)
● Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin (Gold
Resources Corp)
● Muscogee (Creek) (Twin Pines Minerals)
● Oceti Ŝakowiŋ, multiple Tribes connected to the
Black Hills (Solitario Zinc, Dakota Gold, Coeur
Mining, others)
● Paiute-Shoshone (Lithium Americas)
● Tohono O’odham Nation, Pascua Yaqui Tribe,
and Hopi Tribe (Rosemont Mine)