Indigenous Consultation for UN Business and Human Rights Working Group FPIC Study
Indigenous Peoples Rights International and Tallgrass Institute invite Indigenous leaders in North America to share insights and expertise for the forthcoming UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights (UNWG on BHR) thematic study, Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) of Indigenous Peoples in the context of business and human rights.
Taking place Thursday, November 6, 11:00 am-12:30 pm ET, the consultation will introduce the theme, answer general questions about the process, facilitate breakout group discussions and presentations , and conclude dialogue and synthesis by the organizers. Participants will include representatives of Indigenous communities, governance bodies, organizations, institutions and networks, and representatives from Indigenous legal networks, defenders, and experts on business and human rights to share their experience.
Email info@tallgrassinstitute.org for link to the virtual consultation and more information.
Guiding questions:
What are the most pressing FPIC-related concerns regarding business activities in your community’s lands and territories?
How have States and businesses engaged with your community regarding FPIC?
What are examples of meaningful or failed FPIC processes, and what were the consequences?
What does an effective, culturally appropriate FPIC process look like from your community’s perspective?
What support is needed (legal, financial, technical) to strengthen FPIC capacity?
What recommendations can you share for States, businesses, and investors to ensure respect for Indigenous Peoples’ rights?
More Information
The UNWG on BHR thematic study on Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) of Indigenous Peoples in the context of business and human rights aims to deepen understanding and promote compliance by States, businesses, and investors with international human rights standards on FPIC—an essential component of Indigenous Peoples’ right to self-determination. Regional consultations will gather collective inputs and lived experiences from Indigenous communities, institutions, organizations and networks regarding FPIC in the context of business operations, such as extractives, energy, agriculture, and infrastructure projects.
Consultation Objectives:
Document Indigenous Peoples’ experiences—positive and negative—in the exercise of FPIC in relation to business activities in their territories.
Identify challenges, lessons learned, and good practices in implementing FPIC at community and national levels.
Gather concrete recommendations to strengthen the protection and respect for Indigenous Peoples’ rights by States, businesses, and investors in line with international human rights standards.
Consolidate inputs from the consultations for submission to the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights.
Following the consultation, we will compile feedback and synthesize into a collective report structured around the key themes and questions. The consolidated submission will be shared with all participants for validation before being formally submitted to the UNWG on BHR on December 1, 2025. More information may be found in the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights Call for Inputs.