Why Your Indigenous Peoples Needs Its Own FPIC Protocol
Remember those FPIC guides from the UN and NGOs? Everyone acts like they're gold. But let me tell you a secret. True power comes from writing your own rules.
Sure, these guides help.
They teach outsiders the basics.
They set some standards.
But here's what they miss.
Your voice. Your values. Your way of life.
Picture this. A mining company walks in with their fancy UN guidebook. They've checked all the boxes. Had all the meetings. Filed all the papers.
But they don't know about the sacred spring their mine would destroy. Or the medicine your traditional healers gather there. Or the stories your elders tell about that land.
That's why you need your own FPIC protocol.
What Makes Your Protocol Different?
Think about who you are. A fishing community sees the world differently from a mountain community. Your sacred sites aren't the same. Your decision-making isn't the same. Your needs aren't the same.
Your protocol speaks your truth:
It follows your traditions
It protects what matters to you
It demands the respect you deserve
It sets your rules for outsiders to follow
Real Examples, Real Power
Sacred Lands Outside Guide: "Hold three community meetings."
Your Protocol: "Visit the site with our elders. Learn its stories. Understand why it's sacred. Then we talk."Clean Energy Projects Outside Guide: "Provide written notice 30 days ahead."
Your Protocol: "Show us how this fits our future. Prove you understand our hunting grounds. Share the real benefits with our peoples."Tourism Plans Outside Guide: "Get 51% community approval."
Your Protocol: "Our Indigenous Peoples leads the way. Our stories, our guides, our rules. We share in the profits, not just the work."
Why This Matters Now
Every time you use someone else's FPIC guide, you play by their rules. But self-determination means making your own rules.
Creating your FPIC protocol isn't just paperwork. It's power. Real power. The power to:
Set the terms for your land
Protect your sacred sites
Guard your traditions
Build your future
Your Next Steps
Look at your Indigenous Peoples: What makes you unique? What must outsiders understand? What are your deal-breakers?
Write your rules: How should outsiders approach you? What ceremonies matter? How does your Indigenous Peoples make decisions?
Make it official: Share it with your government, tell companies this is the only way, stand firm on your protocol.
The Future is Yours
Those UN and NGO guides?
They show the world is listening. But now it's time for your voice. Your protocol. Your power.
Get ready to write your own rules.
Get ready to protect what matters most.
Get ready to show the world how to respect you.
Because you shouldn't follow someone else's guidebook.
That’s it for today.
See you next Saturday!
