The International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) has released Good Practice Guide: Indigenous Peoples and Mining to help members and other mining companies navigate through the complexities associated with mining near indigenous communities. The guide aims to help companies achieve constructive relationships with Indigenous Peoples and to help ICMM members implement their commitments stated in ICMM’s Position Statement on Mining and Indigenous Peoples.

It highlights good practice principles, discusses the challenges in applying these principles at the operational level and provides real-world examples of how mining projects have addressed these challenges. It also explores the cost of getting it wrong.

“This guide has been designed for companies to navigate through the complexities associated with mining near indigenous communities,” said Aidan Davy, Senior Program Director at ICMM. “But it was also produced with the aim that other groups, like investors and mining affected communities, will find it a useful tool”.

The guide is not intended as a one-size-fits-all but is designed to provide useful information and direction for both companies and indigenous communities when considering issues around engagement and participation, agreements, impact management, benefits sharing and dealing with grievances.

While recognising the role of traditional decision-making structures, the guide urges companies to be sensitive to those sections of the community who are frequently excluded from these structures, such as women and young people.

“This publication is a milestone rather than an end point,” said Anthony Hodge, ICMM’s President. “It will form part of ICMM’s ongoing engagement on these issues and will be reviewed in light of practical experience”.

To request printed copies of the report, please e-mail to [email protected]