Comment: Canadian aboriginals have low opinion of mining – Canadian Mining Journal

Nov 17, 2014

Only 38% of aboriginal peoples living in rural or remote communities have a favourable perception of the exploration and mining industry, according to a recent Canada-wide study conducted by PR Associates. There are about 1,200 aboriginal communities located within 200 km of 180 producing mines and at least 2,500 active exploration projects.

The most responsible mining companies have always consulted with First Nations and obtained their permission to proceed. Both sides have worked out individual benefits agreements by which the mining company is obliged to provide training, business opportunity, grants and sometimes a royalty or share of the profits. That is as it should be.

The goals of the new PR Associates study is to provide information that will help build transparent relationships so that resource development can proceed. The benchmarks in the study provide insight into how miners can be socially responsible, and gain their social licences to operate. The industry can engage aboriginal communities in ways that are meaningful to them.