A/HRC/6/15 page 11 24. Among the positive experiences in this regard was that of the Tagbanua Calamian people of the Coron Island, in Palawan (Philippines), whose rights to their ancestral lands were recognized through the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA). This Act recognizes the right of indigenous communities to free, prior and informed consent in relation to any development programme or project undertaken for their benefit, mainly through a council of elders (mame’pet) which represents the entire territory. This process has enabled indigenous communities to better manage their ancestral lands and helped them to generate income by giving them control of local tourism activities. 25. In Canada, the Inuit and Haida peoples have also had some positive experiences relating to free, prior and informed consent. A good example is the agreement reached among the Voisey Bay Nickel Company, the Innu Nation and the Labrador Inuit Association. The agreement recognizes that local indigenous communities have constitutional rights to their ancestral land, and that mining activities on that land can only be conducted with their consent. The agreement has enabled the involvement of indigenous peoples in project design, employment, environmental protection, social security and cultural protection measures. 26. Although this principle is well-established in the legislation and policies of many countries, the Special Rapporteur continues to receive reports from indigenous organizations on the lack of its implementation. In the case of the Russian Federation, for example, in their replies to a questionnaire sent by the Special Rapporteur referring to the Federal Act of 2000 on the indigenous peoples of the North, Siberia and the Far East of the Russian Federation, which incorporates the principles of consultation and consent, indigenous organizations have reported that the Act is not being implemented effectively in all cases where natural resources are being exploited. Likewise, in Colombia, there are continued complaints from indigenous organizations about flaws in the consultation mechanism established by decree No. 1320 of 1998. D. Participation and empowerment 27. Participation and empowerment, two basic and interrelated principles of the human rights-based approach to development, are particularly important for indigenous peoples, who have been systematically excluded and marginalized from decision-making on matters affecting them. Thus, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples recognizes their right to “participate in decision-making in matters which would affect their rights, through representatives chosen by themselves in accordance with their own procedures” (art. 18), as an essential part of their right to self-determination. More specifically, article 23 of the Declaration states that: “Indigenous peoples have the right to determine and develop priorities and strategies for exercising their right to development. In particular, indigenous peoples have the right to be actively involved in developing and determining health, housing and other economic and social programmes affecting them and, as far as possible, to administer such programmes through their own institutions.” 28. There are many positive examples in which the participation of indigenous peoples has contributed effectively to achieving development goals and at the same time helped reinforce the institutional capacity of rights holders. In Argentina, the National Institute of Indigenous Affairs (INAI) established the Council on Indigenous Participation (CPI), the aim of which is to promote