Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC)
FPIC means decisions affecting Indigenous lands and rights require consent — not consultation alone — before projects proceed.
FPIC is grounded in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). Canada passed UNDRIP implementation legislation (2021), but major projects often proceed without consent.
Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs, Mushkegowuk Council, and many Nations invoke FPIC when opposing pipelines, mining, and special economic zones.
Consultation without veto power is not FPIC. Nations distinguish between being informed of a decision and having authority to say no.