CONSERVATION- LET THE INDIGENOUS DO IT
Defintion of Indigenous
“Indigenous communities, peoples and nations are those which, having a historical continuity with pre-invasion and pre-colonial societies that developed on their territories, consider themselves distinct from other sectors of the societies now prevailing on those territories, or parts of them.
Definition of Indigenous Peoples according to the United Nations
Indigenous Peoples are inheritors and practitioners of unique cultures and ways of relating to people and the environment. They have retained social, cultural, economic and political characteristics that are distinct from those of the dominant societies in which they live. Despite their cultural differences, Indigenous Peoples from around the world share common problems related to the protection of their rights as distinct peoples.
Indigenous Peoples have sought recognition of their identities, way of life and their right to traditional lands, territories and natural resources for years, yet throughout history, their rights have always been violated. Indigenous Peoples today, are arguably among the most disadvantaged and vulnerable groups of people in the world. The international community now recognizes that special measures are required to protect their rights and maintain their distinct cultures and way of life. Find below a short history of the Indigenous struggle in the international stage.
Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC)
The principle of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) refers to the right of indigenous peoples to give or withhold their consent for any action that would affect their lands, territories or rights.
"Free" means that indigenous peoples' consent cannot be given under force or threat.
"Prior" indicates that indigenous groups must receive information on the activity and have enough time to review it before the activity begins.
"Informed" means that the information provided is detailed, emphasizes both the potential positive and negative impacts of the activity, and is presented in a language and format understood by the community.
"Consent" refers to the right of the community to agree or not agree to the project before it begins and throughout the life of the project.
This Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) Manual is designed as a tool for project practitioners (herein referred as project managers) for a broad range of projects and programmes (hereinafter to be referred to as projects) of any development organization, by providing information about the right to FPIC and how it can be implemented in six steps.
FPIC is a principle protected by international human rights standards that state, ‘all peoples have the right to self-determination’ and – linked to the right to self-determination – ‘all peoples have the right to freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development’. Backing FPIC are the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), the Convention on Biological Diversity and the International Labour Organization Convention 169, which are the most powerful and comprehensive international instruments that recognize the plights of Indigenous Peoples and defend their rights.
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Free, Prior, and Informed Consent
in the United States
Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) is a principle protected by international human rights standards that state, ‘all peoples have the right to self-determination’ and – linked to the right to self-determination – ‘all peoples have the right to freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development’. FPIC allows indigenous peoples to give or withhold consent to a project that may affect them or their territories.
While the U.S. recognizes “the significance of the Declaration’s provisions on free, prior and informed consent[,]” it qualifies those provisions as a “call for a process of meaningful consultation with tribal leaders.” The federal government’s emphasis on consultation rather than consent is an ongoing challenge for tribes seeking to ensure they have the necessary decision-making authority over projects that affect their lands, territories, and resources.
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Tanzania is an example of where there is no Free and Prior Informed Consent (although the Tanzanian government will tell you otherwise.)
See https://www.youtube.com/live/6ryrvQWKjF4?feature=share It's about some Maasai human rights representatives who traveled to Germany to make their case about eviction from their lands by the government of Tanzania.
Partitioned_Nature_Privileged_Knowledge (1).pdf_______
Wildlife_Management_in_Tanzania_State_Co.pdf