Free, Prior and Informed Consent — known as FPIC — is a fundamental right recognised under the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. It means that any project affecting your community must have your genuine, voluntary agreement before it proceeds. This guide explains what FPIC means in practice for energy projects.
What each word means
- Free: Your community's decision is made without coercion, pressure, manipulation or intimidation. No one can force you to participate, and saying no must be a genuine option.
- Prior: Your consent is sought before any project activity begins — not after decisions have already been made. You have the right to adequate time to understand the proposal and discuss it among your community.
- Informed: You receive full, accurate information about the project in language you understand. This includes what activities will happen, who will do them, what the benefits and risks are, what happens to the outputs, and what your rights are throughout the process.
- Consent: Your community makes a collective decision through your own governance processes. Consent can be given, withheld, or withdrawn at any time.
Your rights during a feasibility study
When a renewable energy feasibility study is proposed for your community, you have the right to:
- Be told in plain language what the study involves, who is doing it, and how it is funded
- Ask questions and receive honest answers before agreeing to participate
- Take as much time as you need to discuss the proposal among your community
- Decide through your own governance processes (board meeting, community meeting, or other appropriate mechanism)
- Say no — participation must be voluntary
- Withdraw consent at any time during the project
- Own the outputs — the completed feasibility study belongs to your community corporation, not to the consultant who delivered it
- Control how the study is shared — it cannot be distributed without your express permission
What a good FPIC process looks like
A genuine FPIC process for a community energy project typically involves three structured community meetings:
The first meeting introduces the project: what a feasibility study is, how it is funded, what activities it involves, who will deliver it, and what the community will receive at the end. Questions are answered and interpreter support is provided where needed.
The second meeting, held during the study, presents interim findings — the energy audit results and initial scenario modelling — so the community can see the work in progress and provide feedback.
The third meeting presents the completed feasibility study, including all options and their costs, benefits and trade-offs. The community selects its preferred option and decides on next steps.
FPIC is not a box to tick
FPIC is not a form to be signed and filed. It is an ongoing relationship of respect between the project and the community. Any consultant or organisation that treats FPIC as a formality rather than a genuine process of engagement and consent is not operating with your interests at heart. If you feel pressured, rushed, or uninformed at any point, you have every right to pause, ask questions, or withdraw.
The First Nations Clean Energy Advice Grants program recognises FPIC as a funded project activity — the cost of interpreter services, community meetings and proper engagement is included in the grant budget. Your community does not need to pay for FPIC out of its own pocket.