Pitfalls and Pipelines - Philippine Indigenous Peoples Links

Chapter 2.4: Negotiations and Engagement with Companies
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Marina Kahlemu, in her presentation to the 2009 Manila Conference,
concluded with the following recommendations in relation to indigenous
peoples’ engagement with extractive industries:
1. The impacts of the extractive industries must be considered in their
entirety in any planning;
2. While calculating the costs of any extractive industries, the full cost of
the activities’ “physical footprint” must be integrated into the planning.
This includes the losses to terrestrial and marine biodiversity;
3. This “physical footprint” belongs to the government and the
indigenous peoples. So they must get a corresponding compensation
for any loss caused by extractive industry projects;
4. Any benefits received from exploiting resources must be compatible
with all the environmental and social impacts;
5. Before any permission is granted for mining or processing, a full
impact study must be undertaken on environmental, social, cultural,
and economic concerns. This is necessary to allow the concerned
indigenous peoples to make a decision on the costs and benefits;
6. Environmental impact studies must be done initially to determine
baseline studies on the state of terrestrial and marine biodiversity.
These studies must last at least three years. Traditional knowledge
will also have to be considered in any baseline data;
7. An extractive industry project must not only be economically viable,
but also viable with regard to social, cultural and environmental
issues;
8. An extractive industry project should be accepted only if it fulfills all of
these conditions and if its establishment is compatible with respect of
the environment as well as the wishes of the indigenous population.
Although this was at times a bitter struggle to force the company to
a negotiation, it is considered a great victory. After so many years
of struggle, so much energy spent, so much destruction, the Kanak
indigenous peoples’ rights are recognized by a foreign multinational
corporation operating in New Caledonia. Others should now follow this
example.