Mining and Indigenous peoples
gn:ecsiep       reg.pacific      4:38 PM  Jun 28, 1996
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Reprinted from the EUROPE PACIFIC SOLIDARITY (EPS) BULLETIN
Vol.4, nr. 3, May\June 1996, issued by European Centre for Studies,
Information and Education on Pacific Issues (ECSIEP)
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                              United Kingdom
             Breakthrough consultation for indigenous peoples
          Indigenous international communications network formed
During a World Council of Churches (WCC) visit in 1993, Australian Aborigi-
nal people said "We need a conference to share information with Indigenous
People fighting the same companies all over the world". This call resulted
in the consultation 'Mining and Indigenous Peoples', London, 6-16 May 1996.
The unprecedented event, organised by the WCC and Minewatch, brought
together forty-five Indigenous representatives. Following is a press
release issued by the WCC.
In an unprecedented event, with which the WCC was closely associated, the
largest global gathering of Indigenous People ever to be held in Britain
took place in London. Forty-five Indigenous representatives, from Indige-
nous nations and communities around the world concerned with mining, formed
an alliance to plan a co-ordinated response to the increasing encroachment
on their lands by multinational mining companies.
Sharon Venne, representing the Dene Nation in Canada, said at a Press Con-
ference held in the House of Commons: "The consultation was a breakthrough
for Indigenous Peoples in that we are now setting our own agenda. Our
agenda is not being set by governments or multinationals. We are not merely
having to react to what they have said or done. We are setting the agenda
ourselves."
Participants identified ten 'HotSpots' where Indigenous Peoples are
fighting the destruction of their cultures and their nations.
Mikhail Todyshev representing the Shore People said, "In recent times, se-
ven indigenous nations have disappeared from our lands in Russia. Who knows
or cares about them?"
Venne continued: "We now have formed an indigenous international communica-
tions network, something we have never had before. In the past we have
always had information after an event or after the mining multinationals
had begun their work. Now we are more prepared for quick and efficient
distribution of information before things happen."
For more than thirty years, mining has been singled out by Indigenous
communities as one of the most destructive forces with which they have to
contend. Indigenous People and their territory from an inseparable unity;
mining threatens this unity by denying land rights, invading cultural
domains, usurping essential resources, and degrading the quality of soil,
air and above all, water - on which Indigenous people depend for their
survival. Indigenous woman, particularly, are prime victims, e.g. from both
uranium mining, and mercury, used for gold extraction, which damage the
reproduction system. They also suffer from destruction of food-gathering
habitats and the blight of male-dominated mining towns.
The world mining industry has become disproportionately dependent on
exploiting Indigenous Peoples' territory:
- Well over half the world's uranium has, since 1940, come from their
lands;
- by 2010 AD, about half the global copper and gold supply will come from
Indigenous Peoples' territories.
The WCC supported Indigenous Peoples as they planned and brought together
the 45 Indigenous campaigners from North America, Australia, Latin America,
Russia, Scandinavia, Asia and Africa. The WCC welcomes the opportunity to
move beyond statements of solidarity to practical support for concrete
action by Indigenous People. Support for this consultation also came from a
number of Churches and partner agencies and from the Danish and Norwegian
governments.
A copy of the Declaration issued by the Consultation and the list of
'HotSpots' are available from: Rev. Bob Scott, World Council of Churches,
Programme to Combat Racism, P.O. Box 2100, s 1211 Geneva 20, Switzerland,
Ph.: +41.22.791.6289.
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