It is very important to decide, as a community, how we will make decisions about projects or policies that could
affect our territories. This means deciding what institutions will best represent us and what processes we will use to
make decisions. Once we decide, we then have to make clear to outsiders what process we expect them to follow.
We do not have to accept the institutions and systems chosen by or forced on us by outsiders!
2.4a Deciding what institutions will represent our people
Institutions to choose from include:
•
The customary institutions of our people;
•
Institutions that were created by the government but are now accepted by our people. In Guyana, this may
mean village councils. A village council is comprised of a Toshao and councilors; the law requires that the
council must act collectively in discharging its functions; and
•
New institutions set up by our people to deal with outsiders.
There is no rule on what is best. We can choose to be to be
represented by only one institution. We can also choose to be
represented by several institutions, but we have to be aware
that our people risk being more easily divided if we do. Or
we can choose to be represented by customary and newer
institutions working together.
Researchers who have studied negotiations between
Indigenous communities and mining companies in Canada
recommend creating our own negotiating team that deals with
the company and is responsible for informing the community.
The team could have our chosen leaders on it (along with
others), or the institution we have chosen to represent us could
be a second layer of decision-making that the negotiators can
refer to when they need to. For more information, see the
Negotiating Impact Benefit Agreements guide that was created
to accompany this FPIC guide.
Other things to consider in deciding
who will represent our people:
•
•
•
Is it better to represent ourselves
collectively as a whole village?
Is it better for a group of related
communities to be represented
jointly? (For example several villages or
homesteads together);
Or to negotiate as a wider group of
affected peoples?
Part of the answer to this question depends
on the scale of the proposed project and its
impacts. We also need to consider how we
will work with distant communities and if
we can stay unified in our negotiations with
outsiders.
Whatever we decide, it is key to think about whether our
chosen institutions are ready to deal with the complex
decisions that surround mining, hydro, conservation or other modern projects. This is especially important if our
people have not had to make these kinds of decisions before.
To answer this question, we should think about our institutions and how they work:
•
How are their members chosen?
•
Do they represent the views of all people who will be affected?
•
How involved are women, youth and elders in decision-making, and should steps be taken to get them more
involved?
•
Do they report back to our people and ask for our views before making final decisions?
•
Are they controlled by the people?
•
How prepared are they to negotiate agreements with mining companies or other outsiders? How prepared
are they to understand the information needed to make an informed decision? How prepared are they to
manage the money that may come with an agreement?
•
If they are not prepared, how can they be strengthened?
A practical guide for Indigenous Peoples in Guyana
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