Indigenous peoples and the heritage of future generations

The indigenous peoples are mostly the victims of rampant mining across the world. That is why mining requires vigilance to ensure that the heritage of future generations – the biological and cultural heritage – is not adversely affected by the activities of today. The almost universal past experiences of these peoples is poor action and accountability. If it is possible to change this experience, the effort is well worth it.

Indigenous cultures are inherently values-based and have highly systematic cultural traditions of ascertaining excellent, best, mediocre, and bad practices in all aspects of life. Best practice is the only responsible and ethical practice; it plans for the direct and active participation of local indigenous communities in all aspects of the business of mining. From negotiations for access to the conduct of mining, environmental quality and rejuvenation of any lands and waters affected. If there is a genuine desire to adopt best practice as standard of the mining industry in its dealings with indigenous peoples, companies must be willing to conduct business differently.

One practical strategy for best practice is the "no-go zones." While no mining in "protected areas" may appease indigenous groups, not all mining sites are in protected areas or are rich in biodiversity but they are rich in indigenous cultural and spiritual concerns. Among the best practices recommended are: restoration, and standard consistent with liability acknowledging the mining firms’ responsibility to maintain ongoing wellbeing – cultural and environmental – of abandoned sites and restoration after mining has ceased.

The 1972 World Heritage, an international legal instrument takes care of the protection of cultural and natural heritage of "outstanding universal value". With 178 governments having ratified the treaty as of May 2004 with 788 sites on the World Heritage List, the convention is an important initiative in heritage management.

Neglect, poverty, civil unrest, military conflicts and ill-advised planning in many regions are some of the threats to the very survival of the world’s heritage over the last three decades. These increasing threats demands meticulous implementation of the convention by the states that are party to it. They are encouraged to adopt a national policy that gives cultural and natural heritage a function in the life of the community and to integrate the protection of that heritage into comprehensive planning programs.

One of the most important protective mechanisms of the Unesco World Heritage (WHC) is the List of World Heritage in Danger. The inclusion of properties on this list is intended by the whole international community.