Relationships matter

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Canada’s mineral exploration and mining sector knows how important it is to develop strong partnerships with Indigenous communities. Conflict and disagreement over the development of mines and the extraction of natural resources benefits neither side.

Nevertheless, access to land for mineral exploration and mine development remains a hot button issue calling for tact and diplomacy to find a mutually acceptable solution.

Felix Lee, president of the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) says along with its leadership in all aspects of mineral exploration and mine development, Canada is also a leader in building innovative relationships and partnerships with Indigenous peoples.

He says PDAC’s Indigenous Affairs Program supports development of positive relationships between Indigenous communities and exploration and mining companies and aims to increase participation by Indigenous peoples in the economic opportunities generated by the mineral industry.

“The Indigenous Program at the annual PDAC Convention is one way we do this,” he says. “It provides an important platform for discussion on fostering co-operative, respectful and mutually beneficial relationships between Indigenous communities and the minerals industry. It’s an opportunity to bring individuals, Indigenous-owned companies and communities together with industry to share experiences, exchange ideas and network.”

PDAC also prioritizes year-round support for efforts that aim to improve the understanding of the mineral industry by Indigenous peoples, and vice versa.

“Expanding the knowledge base of all parties ensures engagement can be conducted in an effective manner,” adds Mr. Lee.

Proportionally, the mining industry is the largest private-sector employer of Indigenous peoples and provided over 16,600 jobs to community members in 2018, according to the Mining Association of Canada (MAC).
MAC says several of its Towards Sustainable Mining (TSM) guiding principles have direct applicability to the relationship between mining companies and Indigenous peoples. MAC believes the mining sector and Indigenous communities share a common interest in ensuring that mining activity takes place responsibly, in a manner that creates economic opportunity, is respectful of community interests, protects the environment and ensures public safety.

MAC member companies have committed to respecting their relationships with Indigenous peoples and will:
• Respect Indigenous and treaty rights and seek to understand local perspectives on those rights;
• Acknowledge and respect the social, economic, environmental and cultural interests of Indigenous peoples;
• Engage with Indigenous peoples, in accordance with the TSM guiding principles, to develop open and effective relationships throughout the mining lifecycle.

The goal is to build cross-cultural understanding so that company personnel understand Indigenous peoples’ culture, values and aspirations, and Indigenous peoples understand the company’s principles, objectives, operations and practices.

Member companies will also undertake early, timely and culturally appropriate engagement with Indigenous peoples, including within the environmental assessment process, to ensure their interests in a project and its potential impacts are understood, and they will aim to obtain the free, prior and informed consent of directly affected Indigenous peoples before proceeding with new projects or expansions where impacts to rights may occur.

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