Defending Customary Territory: A Collective Conservation Initiative of the Daai Indigenous Peoples

Indigenous Peoples’ rights to land, territories and resources is not legally recognized in Myanmar (Christian Erni, et al., 2019).[1] Rather, the customary lands of Indigenous Peoples are at the disposal of the government (VFV Land Law 2012, and 2018), allowing the state to use and demarcate the land as they wish, turning it into conservation areas and granting right-to-use concessions to companies for resource extraction and monocrop agriculture, for example. This situation often triggers conflict between the state and Indigenous communities, which has been the case with the Daai Indigenous Peoples’ territory.

Continue Reading

The similarities between the Transition Minerals and Fossil Fuel Economies and their Impacts on Indigenous Peoples: the Case of Lithium

BY EDSON KRENAK FOR INDIGENOUS DEBATES

The destruction of territories rich in biodiversity and cultural heritage is a concerning consequence of the global demand for minerals such as nickel, cobalt and lithium. These territories are being sacrificed in the name of economic growth and the so-called energy transition, as governments and corporations prioritise short-term gains. To challenge this contradiction and fight for their rights, Indigenous Peoples' proposals are not merely technical fixes but holistic responses rooted in their traditional knowledge, territorial sovereignty, and cultural survival.

Continue Reading

El Cerrejón, the Wayuu struggle and coal for Germany: the double standards of the energy transition

BY RENÉ KUPPE FOR INDIGENOUS DEBATES

In La Guajira, the Swiss transnational Glencore operates a mine that has diverted a stream in order to extract coal. Beyond the environmental damage to nearby communities, the operation has also affected access to drinking water and undermined their spiritual life. The situation has worsened since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine: the German government has turned to Colombian coal as an alternative to Russian gas. The Wayuu people’s struggle is a reminder that the energy transition cannot be fair if those who pay the highest price are ignored.

Continue Reading

Science and Indigenous Governance in the Face of Hydrocarbon Impacts:The Struggle to Remediate Lot 192

BY MARIO ZÚÑIGA LOSSIO FOR INDIGENOUS DEBATES

In parts of Peru long subjected to oil exploitation, extractive activities have inflicted such profound socio-ecological damage on Indigenous territories that it has become an unpayable debt, affecting not only the present but also future generations. A close examination of the benefits promoted by the energy sector shows that they bear little relation to the real impacts experienced by Indigenous Peoples. The legacy of this damage—and the complexities involved in addressing it—cannot be ignored when considering transitions from the oil-extractive model towards new energy systems grounded in justice and historical memory.

Continue Reading

The Clean Energy Smokescreen: Quebec’s Fossil Fuel Ban and the Mining Boom on Indigenous Lands

BY EARTHWORKS FOR INDIGENOUS DEBATES

The US Department of Defense's involvement in projects such as Lomiko and Strange Lake shows how clean energy narratives can align with military objectives. Minerals such as graphite, lithium, rare earths, and nickel are essential not only for electric vehicle batteries, but also for the military industry. Quebec has a decision to make: honor its commitments to Indigenous rights and climate justice, or quietly align itself with US military priorities.

Continue Reading

STAY CONNECTED

About IWGIA

IWGIA - International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs - is a global human rights organisation dedicated to promoting and defending Indigenous Peoples’ rights. Read more.

For media inquiries click here

Indigenous World

IWGIA's global report, the Indigenous World, provides an update of the current situation for Indigenous Peoples worldwide. Read The Indigenous World.

Subscribe to our newsletter

Contact IWGIA

Prinsessegade 29 B, 3rd floor
DK 1422 Copenhagen
Denmark
Phone: (+45) 53 73 28 30
E-mail: iwgia@iwgia.org
CVR: 81294410

Report possible misconduct, fraud, or corruption

 instagram social icon facebook_social_icon.png   youtuble_logo_icon.png  linkedin_social_icon.png  

NOTE! This site uses cookies and similar technologies.

If you do not change browser settings, you agree to it. Learn more

I understand

Joomla! Debug Console

Session

Profile Information

Memory Usage

Database Queries