Our Values guide every decision we make as a company and as individual employees. They describe what is most important to us, and set the bar for how we behave in our interactions with society, our business partners and with one another.
One of our values—Respect—is the foundation of how we approach relationships with Indigenous Peoples. The theme for this issue, Recognizing Indigenous Peoples, reflects our commitment to respecting their unique rights, cultures, interests and aspirations.
The examples we have chosen to highlight in this issue are just some of the many strong and lasting relationships we have developed by engaging with Indigenous Peoples in all stages of the mining process.
“Reaching Agreements, Creating Lasting Benefits” describes how respect guides the process for establishing formal agreements, which provides a critical framework for how we work together, helping ensure Indigenous communities participate in and benefit from resource development.
While there is no question that mining has built and strengthened communities across Canada, Chile and the U.S., we also know that mistakes were made along the way, and that historically, not everyone shared in the benefits and opportunities that mining created, including Indigenous Peoples.
One story told to me by a member of the Ktunaxa in the southeast Kootenays of British Columbia describes how for decades, they watched trains roll past their community, carrying steelmaking coal mined in their traditional territory. No one had talked to them about it, or asked them for input.
We know that these kinds of stories and this difficult history between mining and Indigenous Peoples exists across our industry and that we must do better moving forward.
On a broader level, the movement towards reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples continues, notably in Canada with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission advancing its recommendations. We also recognize our role in reconciliation and are working to build strong relationships and enhance respect between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Peoples, organizations and communities in the areas where we operate.
As we look ahead, the time to build relationships isn’t decades after a mine has started operating, it begins at the earliest stages of exploration.
“Global Perspectives: On the Ground with Exploration” sheds a spotlight on some of the work being done with Indigenous Peoples at the earliest stages of our mining activities, from the perspectives of two employees; one in North America, and the other in Australia.
In “Recognizing Indigenous Cultures” we take a moment to share some of the history, culture and traditions of just a few of the many Indigenous Peoples with whom Teck works closely, to help foster greater awareness and understanding.
Building strong, respectful relationships is critical to our success and to the success of those we work with. And the relationships and common understanding that we build today—each of us in our day-to-day work and through living Our Values—will ensure our mutual success in the years to come.
Don Lindsay
President and CEO
