Consent Quote by Elizabeth May
“You have to look at what the United Nations Declaration of Rights of Indigenous people says which is free and prior informed consent. Now, if you say 'we're going to build a pipeline, what does it take for us as the colonial power of Canada to make you agree?' That's not free, prior and informed consent, that's coercion.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples discussion 2007
Advocates that genuine consent must be free, prior, and informed, not coerced by power dynamics.
In simple terms: Consent must be genuine, not forced.
Key Takeaway
Demand true consultation and respect.
Themes
rights
consent
colonialism
indigenous sovereignty
Mood
critical
ethical
Type
political
advocacy
When to use this quote
- Pipeline negotiations
- government agreements
- indigenous consultations
Key Concepts
Free prior informed consent
colonial power dynamics
Questions to Reflect On
- How can governments ensure consent is truly free?
- What mechanisms prevent coercion?
A Different Perspective
Power imbalances can still undermine consent.
