WCD Thematic Reviews Social Issues I.2 Sharing Power Dams, Indigenous Peoples and Ethnic Minorities Final Version : November 2000 Prepared for the World Commission on Dams (WCD) by: Marcus Colchester - Forest Peoples Programme Secretariat of the World Commission on Dams P.O. Box 16002, Vlaeberg, Cape Town 8018, South Africa Phone: 27 21 426 4000 Fax: 27 21 426 0036. Website: http://www.dams.org E-mail: [email protected] World Commission on Dams Orange River Development Project, South Africa, Draft, October 1999 i Disclaimer This is a working paper of the World Commission on Dams - the report published herein was prepared for the Commission as part of its information gathering activity. The views, conclusions, and recommendations are not intended to represent the views of the Commission. The Commission's views, conclusions, and recommendations will be set forth in the Commission's own report. Please cite this report as follows: Colchester, M. 2000 - Forest Peoples Programme : Dams, Indigenous Peoples and Ethnic Minorities, Thematic Review 1.2 prepared as an input to the World Commission on Dams, Cape Town, www.dams.org The WCD Knowledge Base This report is one component of the World Commission on Dams knowledge base from which the WCD drew to finalize its report “Dams and Development-A New Framework for Decision Making”. The knowledge base consists of seven case studies, two country studies, one briefing paper, seventeen thematic reviews of five sectors, a cross check survey of 125 dams, four regional consultations and nearly 1000 topic-related submissions. All the reports listed below, are available on CD-ROM or can be downloaded from www.dams.org Case Studies (Focal Dams) Country Studies Briefing Paper • Grand Coulee Dam, Columbia River Basin, USA • India • Russia and NIS • Tarbela Dam, Indus River Basin, Pakistan • China countries • Aslantas Dam, Ceyhan River Basin, Turkey • Kariba Dam, Zambezi River, Zambia/Zimbabwe • Tucurui Dam, Tocantins River, Brazil • Pak Mun Dam, Mun-Mekong River Basin, Thailand • Glomma and Laagen Basin, Norway • Pilot Study of the Gariep and Van der Kloof dams- Orange River South Africa Thematic Reviews • TR I.1: Social Impact of Large Dams: Equity and • TR IV.1: Electricity Supply and Demand Distributional Issues Management Options • TR I.2: Dams, Indigenous People and Vulnerable • TR IV.2: Irrigation Options Ethnic Minorities • TR IV.3: Water Supply Options • TR I.3: Displacement, Resettlement, • TR IV.4: Flood Control and Management Options Rehabilitation, Reparation and • TR IV.5: Operation, Monitoring and Development Decommissioning of Dams • TR II.1: Dams, Ecosystem Functions and • TR V.1: Planning Approaches Environmental Restoration • TR V.2: Environmental and Social Assessment for • TR II.2: Dams and Global Change Large Dams • TR V.3: River Basins – Institutional Frameworks • TR III.1: Economic, Financial and Distributional and Management Options Analysis • TR V.4: Regulation, Compliance and • TR III.2: International Trends in Project Financing Implementation • TR V.5: Participation, Negotiation and Conflict Management: Large Dam Projects • Regional Consultations – Hanoi, Colombo, Sao Paulo and Cairo • Cross-check Survey of 125 dams This is a draft working paper of the World Commission on Dams. It was prepared for the Commission as part of its information-gathering activity. The views, conclusions, and recommendations are not intended to represent the views of the Commission. World Commission on Dams Orange River Development Project, South Africa, Draft, October 1999 ii Acknowledgements This paper was to have been written jointly with Andrew Gray, of the Forest Peoples Programme, who was killed in an air accident in May 1999. We profoundly lament his loss. I would like to offer my thanks to Fergus MacKay, Garth Nettheim and Tony Simpson for help with legal interpretations and to Maurizio Ferrari, Bill Fisher, Real Courcelles, Josef Milewski, Robert Goodland, Maninder Gill, Sandy Davis, Joji Carino, Anne Deruyterre, Ted Moses, Brian Craik, Andy Orkin and Ted Scudder for comments on earlier drafts. I would also like to thank The Cornerhouse for the exceptional help provided in chasing up sources and information. This is a draft working paper of the World Commission on Dams. It was prepared for the Commission as part of its information-gathering activity. The views, conclusions, and recommendations are not intended to represent the views of the Commission. Dams, Indigenous Peoples and Ethnic Minorities iii Financial and in-kind Contributors: Financial and in-kind support for the WCD process was received from 54 contributors including governments, international agencies, the private sector, NGOs and various foundations. According to the mandate of the Commission, all funds received were ‘untied’-i.e. these funds were provided with no conditions attached to them. • ABB • Skanska • ADB - Asian Development Bank • SNC Lavalin • AID - Assistance for India's Development • South Africa - Ministry of Water Affairs and • Atlas Copco Forestry • Australia - AusAID • Statkraft • Berne Declaration • Sweden - Sida • British Dam Society • IADB - Inter-American Development Bank • Canada - CIDA • Ireland - Ministry of Foreign Affairs • Carnegie Foundation • IUCN - The World Conservation Union • Coyne et Bellier • Japan - Ministry of Foreign Affairs • C.S. Mott Foundation • KfW - Kredietanstalt für Wiederaufbau • Denmark - Ministry of Foreign Affairs • Lahmeyer International • EDF - Electricité de France • Lotek Engineering • Engevix • Manitoba Hydro • ENRON International • National Wildlife Federation, USA • Finland - Ministry of Foreign Affairs • Norplan • Germany - BMZ: Federal Ministry for Economic • Norway - Ministry of Foreign Affairs Co-operation • Switzerland - SDC • Goldman Environmental Foundation • The Netherlands - Ministry of Foreign Affairs • GTZ - Deutsche Geschellschaft für Technische • The World Bank Zusammenarbeit • Tractebel Engineering • Halcrow Water • United Kingdom - DFID • Harza Engineering • UNEP - United Nations Environment • Hydro Quebec Programme • Novib • United Nations Foundation • David and Lucille Packard Foundation • USA Bureau of Reclamation • Paul Rizzo and Associates • Voith Siemens • People's Republic of China • Worley International • Rockefeller Brothers Foundation • WWF International This is a draft working paper of the World Commission on Dams. It was prepared for the Commission as part of its information-gathering activity. The views, conclusions, and recommendations are not intended to represent the views of the Commission. Dams, Indigenous Peoples and Ethnic Minorities iv WHY WE DON'T WANT TO MOVE This land is where we belong -- it is God's gift to us and has made us who we are. This land is where we are at home, we know its ways: and the things that happened here are known and remembered, so that the stories the old people told are still alive here. This land is needed for those who come after -- we are becoming more and more than before, and we must start new settlements, with new farms around them. If we have to move, it is likely that there will be other people there and we shall not be free to spread out as we need to: and the land will not be enough for our people, so that we will grow poor. This land is the place where we know where to find all that it provides for us -- food from hunting and fishing, and farms, buildings and tool materials, medicines. Also the spirits around us know us and are friendly and helpful. This land keep us together within its mountains -- we come to understand that we are not just a few people or separate villages, but one people belonging to a homeland. If we had to move, we would be lost to those that remain in the other villages. This would be a sadness to us all, like the sadness of death. Those who moved would be strangers to the people and spirits and places where they are made to go. The Akawaio Indians, Upper Mazaruni District, Guyana, 1977 1 As long as: By Paulus Utsi (Saami) As long as we have water, where fish swim As long as we have lands, where reindeer graze and wander As long as we have grounds, where wild animals hide Then we have consolation on this earth. When our homes have been destroyed and our lands devastated, where will we live? Our lands, our livelihoods have dwindled The lakes have risen The rivers have run dry The streams sing with sorrowful voices The lands blacken, verdure wilts The birds become silent and flee. All the good things we have received Do not touch our hearts What should have made our lives easier Has become worthless. Hard stone roads make Our movements painful The peace of the people of the wilderness Cries in their hearts. In the rush of time Our blood is thinned Our unison shattered Waters cease to roar. 1 Cited in Bennett, Butt-Colson and Wavell 1978:9 This is a draft working paper of the World Commission on Dams. It was prepared for the Commission as part of its information-gathering activity. The views, conclusions, and recommendations are not intended to represent the views of the Commission. Dams, Indigenous Peoples and Ethnic Minorities v Table of Contents 1. Indigenous Peoples, Ethnic Minorities and National Development............................1 1.1 Summary/Introduction...................................................................................................................1 1.2 Difficulties with Definitions..........................................................................................................1 1.3 Special characteristics of Indigenous Peoples ...............................................................................2