Mineral extraction on Indigenous land: employing a relational approach to navigate the convergence of Indigenous and other ontologies and practices

The transition to low-carbon technologies, essential for energy transition, significantly increases the demand for minerals, with projections indicating a sixfold rise by 2040. A substantial portion of these minerals is located on Indigenous lands, placing policymakers in (1) a governance paradox between rapid mineral extraction and the protection of Indigenous rights and (2) a justice paradox between respecting Indigenous self-determination—including the right to reject mining—versus accelerating the energy transition to prevent broader climate injustices. This perspective explores how a relational approach can help navigate the convergence of Indigenous and other ontologies and practices to address justice issues in mineral extraction. It contrasts the holistic, relational worldview of Indigenous peoples with the resource-centered, extractive logic embedded in the governance approaches of many mining companies and governments. The environmental, social, and cultural impacts of mineral extraction on Indigenous lands are discussed, revealing that Indigenous communities bear disproportionate negative consequences despite their minimal contribution to carbon emissions. The paper proposes a paradigm shift towards a process-relational framework that acknowledges Indigenous ways of knowing, being, and relating to land. This framework aims to enhance procedural, distributive, recognitional, and epistemic justice in mineral extraction and promote new governance approaches. This perspective aims to support a more just and sustainable energy transition that respects Indigenous ontologies and practices and constitutes a start towards a broader political movement of decolonization.