Tag Archives: Indigenous Rights

Rethinking mining law on customary land

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Fiji is currently reviewing the Mining Act 1965 and the Quarries Act 1939. In this episode of The Customary Land Podcast, I reflect on why that matters for customary landowners, and why compensation, royalties, and consultation are not enough unless legitimacy, stewardship, and long-horizon responsibility come first.

The episode explores the deeper structural mismatch between inherited extractive law and living customary systems, and asks what must be in place before development on customary land can be treated as legitimate at all. It also introduces SUITU and the importance of a governance integrity spine.

The YouTube vodcast version is available here:
https://youtu.be/z2t0FBvdst4

The podcast version is available here:
https://www.thecustomarylandpodcast.com/2122490/episodes/18921346-rethinking-mining-law-on-customary-land

Or simply search for The Customary Land Podcast in your preferred podcast player.

15 years on, Siwatibau’s wisdom on land tenure in his SPLTC Symposium welcome address remains as valid as ever.

Transforming Land Conflict – FAO/USP/RICS Foundation South Pacific Land Conflict Symposium Welcome Address by the late Savenaca Siwatibau, Vice Chancellor, University of the South Pacific – 10 April 2002.

The video can also be viewed in YouTube at  https://youtu.be/gvjpFG9mCK0

Caveat: this was recorded live in Fiji in 2002 on VHS – the video aspect is 4:3 and there has been some deterioration in the magnetic tape so please be patient with screen flickers.

The full transcript is available Savenaca Siwatibau – Welcome Address – SPLTC Symposium – Full Transcript (opens PDF).

The Symposium ‘Declaration and Resolutions’ is available her SPLTC Symposium – Official Declaration and Resolutions (opens PDF).