#28. Establish and facilitate a clear process for dialogue between developers and Indigenous Peoples prior to permitting mining activities
The principles of free, prior and informed consent, as committed under UNDRIP legislation, must be operationalized by federal and provincial government officials to facilitate meaningful, respectful and constructive dialogue between Indigenous communities and developers. A January 2022 report produced by the British Columbia First Nations Energy and Mining Council provides useful guidance for consent-based approval and regulation of new mining sites, from permitting to land reclamation and restoration, in a manner that upholds Indigenous self-determination, self-governance and human rights.65
65 BC First Nations Energy and Mining Council (January 2022): Indigenous Sovereignty: Consent for Mining on Indigenous Lands, see http://fnemc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/FNEMC_mining_consent_FinalReport.pdf