Global Indigenous Leaders Form Pact Against Predatory Mining in Defense of Isolated Peoples
Indigenous representatives from various continents convened from January 26 to 29 in Jakarta, Indonesia, for the International Indigenous Knowledge Exchange and Solidarity Gathering on Nickel Mining, Territorial Defense, and Indigenous Peoples in Voluntary Isolation. Organized by the Aliansi Masyarakat Adat Nusantara (AMAN), the event included delegations from South America, such as the Conselho Indigenista Missionário (Cimi).
The gathering aimed to establish a unified front against the global expansion of nickel mining and to enhance protections for traditional territories, especially for voluntarily isolated indigenous peoples. Discussions highlighted the negative impacts of mining linked to energy transition.
Participants emphasized the need for free, prior, informed consent for projects on indigenous lands and called for a moratorium on mining in areas inhabited by isolated groups. A joint declaration, the Jakarta Charter, was created to be presented to international bodies, underscoring the urgency of protecting these vulnerable populations.
