Extracting insights: A systematic review of mining impacts on indigenous peoples

Abstract

Mining’s impacts on Indigenous communities are complex and context-specific, shaped by diverse political, legal, and socio-environmental conditions. This article presents a systematic review of 164 peer-reviewed empirical studies published between 2014 and 2024, examining how these impacts have been conceptualized and analyzed within the social sciences and humanities. It maps research trends by discipline, geography, methods, and case configuration, and identifies key thematic areas—such as resource governance, environmental change, economic disruption, health, and impacts on culture and gender. The review also examines research design patterns, highlighting recurring tendencies and opportunities to expand empirical and thematic scope. Findings show that mining outcomes are mediated by structural forces—such as legal and institutional arrangements, historical inequities, and power asymmetries—that shape how Indigenous communities experience, negotiate, and contest extractive development. While responses vary—including legal action, political participation, and the assertion of rights—systemic inequities persist. By synthesizing a decade of research, this review advances understanding of Indigenous–extractive relations and provides a foundation for advancing more inclusive, critical, and policy-relevant research.