2409 THE INCLUSION OF INDIGENOUS VALUES AND INTERESTS THROUGH MEANINFUL PARTNERSHIPS IN MINING PROJECTS *M.I. Maita1 1AUSENCO, Canada The paper addresses the conference call to action to rethink how the world's urgently needed mineral resources can be delivered to society by shortening project timelines without compromising people or the planet. It discusses and presents approaches and examples of how mine proponents can build meaningful and strong relationships with Indigenous rightsholders and local communities through early engagement, partnerships and lead to the co-creation of shared value by buying and hiring local practices, equity participation or any other type of benefits-sharing arrangements, streamlining regulatory approvals and obtaining the support to operate and, therefore, diminishing the chances for delays due to protests or opposition. ABSTRACT In Canada, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) became law in June 2021, and the Canadian Government is aligning its internal legislation with it. Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) is a crucial aspect of the UNDRIP and is required before economic development projects can take place on Indigenous lands. The consultation requirements and expectations have become stronger, shifting from a “duty to consult and accommodate” to an expectation that Indigenous Nations’ consent be obtained before economic development occurs on their lands, as the only way to operate or maintain access to land in these areas. We are increasingly seeing that Indigenous Nations are not only economically included through community investment, local employment, and hiring opportunities, but also through equity partnerships and other types of benefit-sharing arrangements in mining and large resource development projects, where they are becoming equity partners on these Projects. Worldwide, this shift has also been adopted and is being led by socially responsible lenders that follow international standards, such as the IFC Performance Standards and the Equator Principles, as funding conditions for projects occurring on or impacting Indigenous lands. Building meaningful partnerships with Indigenous Nations is becoming an essential component of the viability of mining projects, as it not only enables sustained community support and increased project certainty but, most importantly, drives long-term success for all: mining operators, shareholders, Indigenous partners, and the host country. Our presentation will focus on setting the context for Indigenous Peoples worldwide, presenting the status of Reconciliation and UNDRIP in Canada, and highlighting emerging trends and lessons learned, not only in North America, but also in South America. As an example of Indigenous partnerships, the Ausenco BRIDGES Initiative (Building Relationships for Indigenous Development, Growth, Engagement & Sustainability) is presented. It focuses on building long-term, trusted relationships and partnerships with interested Indigenous Nations, as well as their Indigenous-owned businesses and development corporations. The primary purpose of BRIDGES is to establish Indigenous-led, flexible relationship models that identify and collaborate on economic opportunities occurring on their traditional territories or beyond. BRIDGES has a strong component of training, mentorship and capacity building focused on the inclusion of Indigenous youth and other vulnerable groups. Ausenco currently has a significant number of formalized Indigenous Partnerships and many more in negotiations with Indigenous-owned businesses across Canada, which are embedded in the services we provide to mining companies.
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