Indigenous Peoples

Respect for Indigenous peoples means doing things with them, not for them. Indigenous Peoples would like to be respected, valued, and involved in deciding how their territory and resources should be developed (or not) to protect the elements that define their identity (spirituality, language, culture, livelihood, and traditional knowledge/Mātauranga Māori) and that are crucial for the resilience of their communities and preservation of their culture.

Engagement based on a philosophy of co-learning and co-management is appropriate to ensure their rights and interests are fully considered in the assessment of impacts and the development of mitigation and enhancement measures. The holistic outlook of indigenous peoples can enhance the integration of social and cultural impacts in IA and provide new biological and ecological insights.

Impact Assessment practitioners should:

• Ensure that equality, trust, and respect are the foundation of all interactions.
  
• Use participatory impact assessment methods that include traditional customs, protocols, etiquette and decision-making processes that do not marginalize or demean indigenous and local ways of knowing.
  
• Provide sufficient time to allow processes to take place without duress or unreasonable time pressure.
  
• Identify and implement culturally appropriate protocols for all aspects involved in acquiring, using, and sharing of traditional knowledge/Mātauranga Māori.
• Collaborate with indigenous and local communities to identify their dependency on the ecosystem goods and services that development might affect, and to determine thresholds, major constraints, and high risk areas.

Adapted from Indigenous and Local Peoples and Traditional Knowledge - IAIA Fastips

Cultural Impact Assessments

Akwé: Kon Voluntary guidelines for the conduct of cultural, environmental and social impact assessments regarding developments proposed to take place on, or which are likely to impact on, sacred sites and on lands and waters traditionally occupied or used by indigenous and local communities

The Aashukan Declaration

Guidelines for incorporating traditional knowledge in environmental impact assessment

Working with tāngata whenua - Inspiring Communities Guide

Human rights, Indigenous peoples and the concept of Free, Prior and Informed Consent

An indigenous community-based monitoring system for assessing forest health in New Zealand

Western and Mäori Values for Sustainable Development

Summary review of mātauranga Māori frameworks, approaches, and culturally appropriate monitoring tools for management of mahinga kai

Respecting Indigenous Peoples and Traditional Knowledge

VIDEO: Empowering Indigenous Voices in Impact Assessment