OECD FORUM ON RESPONSIBLE MINERAL SUPPLY CHAINS, May 2025

Galina Angarova, Executive Director of the SIRGE Coalition, Edson Krenak, Advocacy Coordinator at Cultural Survival and member of the SIRGE Coalition’s Executive Committee, and Jenny Wik Karlsson, CEO of Sámidd Riikasearvi/Svenska Samernas, spoke at the plenary event “Strengthening Local Voices in Mining: Insights from Indigenous Peoples in Mining Regions” at the OECD Forum on Responsible Mineral Supply Chains, May 5-7, 2025, in Paris.  

Galina stated that while we speak of an "energy transition," what we are actually experiencing is “energy addition”, where renewable energy is not replacing fossil fuels, but is simply being added to the energy grid to satisfy the ever‑growing energy use. She reminded the audience that Indigenous Peoples do not, and have never, defined their lives around individual rights alone. Their systems are rooted in responsibilities.

“Before colonization, Indigenous Peoples didn’t have a framework for rights. They had frameworks on responsibilities, responsibilities to Mother Nature, to our lands and territories, to people and communities, to our future generations,” she said.

Galina emphasized that Indigenous Peoples have upheld their end of the bargain. Indigenous Peoples’ lands continue to sustain some of the planet’s last intact ecosystems. Their communities continue to protect water, soil, and biodiversity. 

“We’ve held the end of our bargain. And we’re asking corporations, we’re asking governments to hold their end of the bargain and respect Indigenous Peoples’ rights, especially our right to Free, Prior and Informed Consent.”

She also pointed out that mining expansion is increasingly driven by geopolitical agendas, not ecological necessity.

“We’ve been using the term "transition minerals" to describe those extracted for the energy transition. However, a growing share of these minerals is being used for things that have nothing to do with climate. We're seeing their increasing use in military and defense applications, and now, in the rapidly expanding AI infrastructure.

With the current geopolitical escalation, governments are increasingly blending economic and military priorities under the banner of strategic autonomy and rushing to secure supply chains. This means that new mining projects are no longer informed by the market demand but are resulting from the political rhetoric and propaganda, leading to more mining for the sake of mining. The consequences of this are most severe for Indigenous Peoples, who suffer the ultimate cost for mining activities that may not even be essential or necessary.”

Edson emphasized that Indigenous lands, forests, and water bodies are no-go zones for mining. "It doesn’t make sense to destroy forests and violate Indigenous rights in the name of climate solutions. The real path forward must involve reducing mineral demand (through recycling, repair, public transit, and true economic change). You cannot solve a crisis caused by extraction with more extraction,” he said. 

Jenny also pointed out that Indigenous Peoples already have the solutions, and they need to be invited to the table with policymakers and companies to take part in the decision-making. "Consultations with Indigenous Peoples are necessary for finding sustainable solutions. The process needs to be real and meaningful, meaning that Indigenous Peoples need to have real influence in the process and the outcome," she said.