Engaging and Consulting Indigenous Peoples
There are more than 5,000 different Indigenous Peoples around the world comprising 476 million people – around 6.2% of the global population. They are spread across more than 90 countries in every region and speak more than 4,000 languages.
Hydropower project developers and owners are expected to consult widely with affected Indigenous Peoples, respecting local cultural practices while aiming to deliver tangible benefits to affected communities.
Free, prior and informed consent
To meet good practice in consulting with Indigenous Peoples, hydropower project proponents are expected to achieve the affected communities’ Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) for hydropower development
In May 2020, the Hydropower Sustainability Council - a multi-stakeholder group of social and environmental NGOs, industry, government and financial institutions - released international guidance on how to achieve good practice in this area. Read more.
Case Study
Hydro-Québec’s Eastmain-1 Development was the winner of IHA’s coveted Blue Planet Prize at the World Hydropower Congress in 2023 with particular merit for their work engaging indigenous groups. The facility was the first to receive the Gold-level certification under the Hydropower Sustainability Standard.
"Respect for Indigenous peoples is a fundamental requirement of the Hydropower Sustainability Standard, said Claudine Bouchard, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating and Infrastructure Officer, Hydro Québec. "We are honoured to receive the IHA's Blue Planet prize which is a tribute to how the Cree communities and Hydro-Québec teams were able to collaborate during the development of the Eastmain-1 installations.”
The Eastmain-1 project stands out because of the remarkable commitment on the part of the Cree communities throughout its construction. The Crees participated in all aspects of the project, from developing and implementing the mitigation measures to building the structures and conducting the environmental follow-up studies. Cree businesses obtained contracts worth $430 million to conduct these activities. In addition, by sharing and putting their traditional knowledge to use, the Cree communities and the tallymen of the traplines affected by the project played an active role in carrying out the environmental studies and work. Contracts were awarded directly to the tallymen for different types of work, including land clearing and removal of wood debris. This was a first for both SEBJ and the Crees.
Guidelines and assessment tools
Learn more about how hydropower companies should work with Indigenous Peoples here.
Useful links
https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/indigenouspeoples
https://www.un.org/en/fight-racism/vulnerable-groups/indigenous-peoples
