Self-Determination

Join Cultural Survival at the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in New York, May 2013 as we interview leaders on challenges they have faced while implementing the right to Free, Prior and Informed Consent. As we learn about obstacles others have faced, we may better understand how to overcome our own.

Join Cultural Survival at the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in May 2013 as we talk to leaders about what the right to Free, Prior, Informed Consent means to them.

Join us at the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in May 2013 in New York, as we interview youth leader Ta'Kaiya Blaney of the Sliammon FIrst Nation in British Colombia, Canada, about the right to Free, Prior, Informed Consent.

Join us at the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in May 2013 in New York, as we interview Maori leader Catherine Davis about the right to Free, Prior, Informed Consent within the context of New Zealand.

Join us at the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in May 2013 in New York, as we interview Maori leader Catherine Davis about the right to Free, Prior, Informed Consent in the context of New Zealand.

Join us at the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in May 2013 in New York, as we interview leaders about the right to Free, Prior, Informed Consent.

In order for this right to be applied fairly, it should respect the following: 1. From the start of a project, there should be a consultation with the Indigenous People of the area; 2. There should be sufficient time devoted to ensuring that the community receive all of the information about the projects and its impacts; 3. Information should be distributed in accordance with the traditional ways of each community; 4. Any form of trying to influence the opinions of the people should be avoided; 5. All the details of decisions taken should be recorded.

For the right to Free, Prior and Informed Consent to be correctly applied, it is important to know that this right is applicable to all Indigenous Peoples. It must be adhered to with respect for indigenous communities’ own methods of communication and each person’s opinion must be heard. Furthermore, it means that there should be meetings with representatives of the government, companies, and Indigenous Peoples in order to arrive at an agreement that benefits the community.

In order to ensure that the right to Free, Prior and Informed Consent is complied with, there should be community meetings which make people aware of what is happening and could happen in their area. In addition to this, projects must be supervised in order to ensure that decisions made in the community meetings, are implemented during the development project.

The right to Free, Prior and Informed Consent clearly states that the government should not force people to change their method of organisation, thinking, or decision making, nor spread inaccurate information to misinform Indigenous Peoples.