Guatemala’s Escobal Mine Revived Calls for Indigenous Consent

On June 14, 2025, Guatemala’s Indigenous Xinka Parliament reaffirmed its rejection of the Escobal silver mine, operated by Pan American Silver, marking the formal end of a court-ordered consultation process. The Xinka cited enduring concerns over environmental damage, water risks, and violations of cultural rights, arguing that the mine’s waste-heavy extraction model lacks sustainability. Their opposition revives a legal conflict that began in 2017, when Guatemala’s Supreme Court suspended the project due to a lack of prior consultation. The process has since been marred by delays and threats against Indigenous leaders. Recently, Xinka representatives traveled to Canada to call on both Pan American and the Canadian government to uphold Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC), reinforcing international scrutiny on Indigenous rights and extractive accountability.