Human Rights Watch has accused the US government of violating the rights of Indigenous people by allowing Lithium Americas to mine at Thacker Pass in Nevada without obtaining free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC) as required by international law. The report found that the Bureau of Land Management approved the project without meaningful consultation with the Numu/Nuwu and Newe peoples, despite their objections.
Thacker Pass, which holds one of the largest lithium deposits in the world, covers ancestral lands of the Indigenous tribes and has faced legal challenges from advocacy groups. The project’s approval process allegedly did not meet the standards set by the National Historic Preservation Act and international legal obligations to obtain FPIC from affected Indigenous communities.
The report highlights the discrepancy between US law on Indigenous consultation and the FPIC standard mandated by international human rights law. It emphasizes the importance of obtaining Indigenous consent before approving projects that affect their lands and resources, as outlined in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The history of Thacker Pass as a site of violence against Indigenous people further underscores the need for meaningful consultation and respect for their rights in the development of the lithium mine.
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