Delivering Shared Value With Indigenous Communities: Linking Indigenous Governance, Technology, And Project Delivery Outcomes M. A Case*1, M. Saylor2, Global Manager of Sustainable Development, Bechtel Corporation, Mining and Metals Global Business Unit, Perth, Australia1 (*Presenting Author: mcase@bechtel.com) Communities and Social Performance Lead – Asia Pacific, Bechtel Corporation, Mining and Metals Global Business Unit, Brisbane, Australia2 Abstract Indigenous peoples, numbering approximately 370 million and constituting 5% of the global population, inhabit more than 90 countries. These diverse communities, spanning over 5,000 distinct groups and speaking more than 4,000 languages, are custodians of approximately one quarter of the Earth’s land. This has significant implications for resource development, particularly as more than half of the minerals and metals required for the global energy transition are located on or near Indigenous territories. Increased extraction to meet Net Zero targets is likely to result in heightened exposure of Indigenous communities to environmental and social impacts. In response to these challenges, Indigenous groups have collectively called on climate negotiators at the United Nations Climate Change Conference to commit to responsible sourcing of transition minerals. A central focus of these discussions is the application of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) as a mechanism through which Indigenous peoples participate in decisions related to land and resource development. A just transition, one that advances progress toward Net Zero while supporting Indigenous involvement and self-determination and cultural continuity, remains an important consideration for long term social and environmental sustainability. Current approaches to Indigenous engagement often rely on transactional consultation models characterised by one way communication and limited opportunities for Indigenous input. Such approaches can weaken trust and limit recognition of Indigenous peoples as partners in project development, contributing to opposition and project disruption. Increasingly, attention has turned toward transformational engagement approaches that prioritise long term relationships, two-way dialogue, and early involvement of Indigenous voices in project design, implementation, and monitoring. Digital tools such as Virtual Reality (VR) and Geographical Information Systems (GIS) can support transformational engagement when applied appropriately. These tools allow Indigenous communities to visualise proposed project footprints and potential impacts on their territories, supporting more informed participation in decision making. In practice, VR and GIS can assist in bridging communication gaps, supporting FPIC processes, and incorporating 74
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