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Indigenous Peoples’ Rights and Project Responsibilities

Who are Indigenous Peoples, what are their rights, and what are the responsibilities of projects when their traditional lands, waters, or ways of life are impacted?

Projects have profound and lasting effects on the lives of Indigenous Peoples, and efforts to protect and enhance their land and culture are intricately connected to an understanding of their origins and identities. This introductory course aims to raise awareness of Indigenous Peoples’ Rights, providing a foundation for discussions on territorial rights, the right to self-determination, and the Indigenous right to say ‘yes’ or ‘no’.

The course examines the significance of building empathic relationships and implementing impact assessment processes that are characterised by integrity, humility, and respect for the worldview of Indigenous Peoples. Additionally, the course covers what projects need to do to achieve outcomes focused on mutual benefits, avoidance of harm, and the enhancement of the wellbeing of Indigenous Peoples, guided by their own definitions and criteria.

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e-learning programme

These 10 self-paced sessions over 6 weeks take participants on a journey of understanding Indigenous Peoples’ rights within the context of project impact.

From international legal frameworks to Indigenous cultural heritage impacts, this course navigates the landscape of engagement, Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC), ESIA, Impact-Benefit Agreements, benefit-sharing, and more.

We teach practical methods for managing the partnership between projects and impacted Indigenous Peoples. We explore how relationships can be maintained by understanding and empathising with Indigenous worldviews. Additionally, we examine how projects can be designed to benefit everyone involved, enhancing community resilience and adaptability to the social changes that are catalysed by large-scale projects.

Topics covered include:

  • Who are Indigenous Peoples?
  • International legal frameworks, standards and Indigenous rights
  • Indigenous rights in national contexts
  • Consultation & Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC)
  • Impact-Benefit Agreements
  • Benefit-sharing
  • ESIAs for projects on Indigenous lands and waters
  • Indigenous cultural heritage impacts
  • Health impacts
  • Indigenous defenders

For more information please see the course brochure here or contact Suelen Haidar: shaidar@communityinsights.eu

To register, please go to the University of Strathclyde website in this link.