Indigenous Land Rights & Resource Management in the Commonwealth Project

Page last updated: June 22, 2004
Project Development Officer: Tunde Omilola

Overview

The Commonwealth Policy Studies Unit (CPSU) in partnership with the Commonwealth Lawyers Association (CLA) proposes to embark on a project on Indigenous Land Rights and Resource Management in the Commonwealth. The proposed project, which is essentially policy-orientated and research/advocacy focused, is designed to assist the Commonwealth in responding to the needs of its approximately 150 million indigenous peoples. The first phase of the project, which entails inception study, and the raising of funds to carry out this new exciting project, began in June 2004. The main Indigenous Land Rights and Resource Management in the Commonwealth project is due to start in 2005.

The project will build on the achievements of the Indigenous Rights in the Commonwealth Project, a three year research/advocacy programme based at the CPSU, during 2001-2004. The project carried out research on Indigenous rights issues in 20 countries, highlighting the contemporary socio-economic, political, legal and cultural status of Indigenous peoples throughout the Commonwealth. The project revealed that Indigenous peoples in the Commonwealth, whether they live in an industrialised country or a developing one, are among the most disempowered, vulnerable and marginalised with regard to jobs, education, health, culture, language and particularly in relation to their land rights. For further information on this project see http://www.cpsu.org.uk/projects/indigenous/indigenous.htm

The issue of Indigenous land rights has arisen in every territory colonised by European settlers in the Commonwealth, and in other member states also. The problem has been born out of this colonial legacy and the Commonwealth has to face up to its responsibility to Indigenous peoples and their rights to land. There has been some progress made in dealing with this issue within the domestic sphere of individual countries. However, there is a danger that it will remain domestically contained, despite the fact that the problems relating to land and resources are often the direct result of colonialism, and are therefore part of a shared Commonwealth history and responsibility. The issue has taken on a new angle in recent years when major UN conferences (at Rio in 1992 and Johannesburg in 2002 ) have called for recognition of the key role of Indigenous peoples in caring for vulnerable habitats, even though their land rights are still under attack.

The Commonwealth presents a unique opportunity for research over a wide range of countries that are domestically grappling with the issue of Indigenous land rights and resource management. Such research is important for Commonwealth countries, to identify and facilitate the exchange of best practice. Here lies an opportunity to promote professional and practical cooperation, by building knowledge and establishing a network of individuals and organisations working in the field of indigenous land rights. The CPSU in partnership with the CLA hopes to pursue these opportunities in the proposed sequel project - Indigenous Land Rights and Resource Management in the Commonwealth - due to start in 2005. Since 1999 the CPSU has also been working closely with the Commonwealth Association of Indigenous Peoples.

Purpose

The aim of the new project is twofold:

1. to conduct research on Indigenous land rights and resource management in a cross section of Commonwealth countries;
   
2. to identify and facilitate exchange of cases of best practice in relation to Indigenous land rights and resource management in the Commonwealth;
   
3. to promote intellectual and practical cooperation through the establishment of a network of individuals and organisations working in the field of Indigenous land rights and resource management (including lawyers, academics, NGOs and Indigenous Peoples’ Organisations); and
   
4. to encourage the Commonwealth to make a commitment to addressing the needs of its approximately 150 million citizens who belong to Indigenous peoples.

Focus

For reasons of practicality, the project proposes to focus on cases of Indigenous land rights and resource management in the following Commonwealth countries: Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea (Pacific), Canada and Guyana (Americas and Caribbean), South Africa, Cameroon, Tanzania and Botswana (Africa), and India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka (South Asia).

Supporting the Project

The CPSU and CLA are currently seeking support for the project, and would like to hear from individuals, companies, foundations, governments and commissions. Identification with the project is particularly welcome. For further information, or to arrange a meeting, please contact:

Tunde Omilola
Project Development Officer
Indigenous Land Rights and Resource Management in the Commonwealth
Commonwealth Policy Studies Unit (CPSU)
Institute of Commonwealth Studies
28 Russell Square
London WC1B 5DS

tel. +44 (0) 207 862 8865
fax. +44 (0) 207 862 8820

Publications

'Conceptualising Indigenous Land Rights in the Commonwealth', Concept paper, CPSU/ CLA, March 2004

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