TONATIERRA
Community Development Institute
September 13, 2019
USMCA Working Group, US House of Representatives
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, (D-Cal)
Representative Richard Neal (D-MA), Chairman
Representative Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.)
Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.)
Representative Jimmy Gomez (D-Calif.)
Mike Thompson (D-Calif.)
Representative Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.)
John Larson (D-Conn.)
Reps. Terri Sewell (D-Ala.)
Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.)
Good greetings.
Today, September 13, 2019 marks the 12th anniversary of the United Nations
Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). Upon review of the
public record of debate concerning the Human Rights of Indigenous Peoples in the
context of the proposed US-Mexico-Canada Agreement, the systemic disregard for
the territorial rights and human rights of Indigenous Peoples is blatantly discriminatory,
unacceptable and must be addressed before the agreement is put to vote before the House
of Representatives.
Specifically, we call today for a full public hearing before the appropriate committees
and/or Working Group formations of the US Congress for the purpose of informing the
US congressional representatives on the Right of Indigenous Peoples to Free, Prior,
and Informed Consent (FPIC) regarding projects which impact their collective rights.
Such a public hearing must be realized before the USMCA is approved.
The USMCA has been promoted as a necessary “update” of the 1994 North American Free
Trade Agreement (NAFTA). In distinction from NAFTA which was adopted in 1994
thirteen years before adoption of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples,
the signatories of USMCA must comply with the minimum standards of FPIC or the
corporate consortia investing in any development project in violation of FPIC will
immediately become financially liable and exposed to the risk of legal challenges
and financial penalties that must be presented before their constituencies (states) and
shareholders (corporations).
This principle is now well established, having been the subject of the Soft Woods
Lumber Dispute (1982) between the US and Canada which acknowledged the
proprietary rights of Indigenous Peoples over territories and resources in the
international trade tribunals. Recognizing this fact, the World Bank has restructured
its procedures, protocols and practices regarding Indigenous Peoples and the right of
Free, Prior, and Informed Consent under the Environmental and Social Standard 7 to
shield its interests.
There can be no approval of USMCA without recognition, respect, and effective
mechanisms for the protection of the internationally recognized Human Rights of
Indigenous Peoples in the trade zone encompassing the three countries, specifically
the right of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC). Consultation is not consent.
Without the full and effective participation of Indigenous Peoples, as Peoples equal to all
other peoples, there can be no legitimate approval of the USMCA.
“The Indigenous peoples of the Americas possess the underlying and inalienable title
to their lands. Failure by settler governments to recognize that title within USMCA is
a violation of Indigenous rights and the principle of “free, prior and informed
consent” enshrined in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous
Peoples. As a legal violation that infringes on the property rights of Indigenous
peoples, this failure by settler governments creates a massive risk to the financial
interests that rely on the tripartite agreement. Businesses cannot hide behind USMCA
and disregard the rights of Indigenous peoples. Every investor, every corporation,
every entity with a financial interest that crosses the borders between Mexico, the
United States and Canada, must account for this risk when they operate on
Indigenous lands. Failure to account for the risks associated with Indigenous title will
result in faulty, and possibly fraudulent, valuations.” Dr. DT Cochrane, Economist
With representation of Indigenous Peoples from Mexico-US-Canada organized under the
Indigenous Network on Economies and Trade (INET), we offer to engage with
willing members of Congress to bring such a proposed hearing to effect.
Please contact me at your earliest convenience to clarify the position of the USMCA
Working Group regarding the issues we have raised in this intervention.
Tupac Enrique Acosta
TONATIERRA
FPIC
All Peoples have the right to self-determination. It is a fundamental
principle in international law, embodied in the Charter of the
United Nations and the International Covenant on Civil and
Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic,
Social and Cultural Rights.
The standard, Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC), as well as
Indigenous Peoples’ rights to lands, territories and natural
resources are embedded within the universal right to selfdetermination.
The normative framework for FPIC consists of a
series of international legal instruments including the United
Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
(UNDRIP), the International Labour Organization Convention 169
(ILO 169), and the Convention on Diversity (CBD), among many
others.
FPIC is a specific right that pertains to Indigenous Peoples and is
recognized in the UNDRIP. It allows them to give or withhold
consent to a project that may affect them or their territories. Once
they have given their consent, they can withdraw it at any stage.
Furthermore, FPIC enables them to negotiate the conditions under
which the project will be designed, implemented, monitored and
evaluated.
Consultation is not consent.