Indigenous people
Anglo American recognises the special status of Indigenous Peoples. They often have close cultural, religious and spiritual attachment to land, including the nature of particular landscapes.
Anglo Coal Australia provides training to indigenous people from the local community
Moreover, Indigenous Peoples also often have unique knowledge of the fauna and flora of their host regions – information that can be valuable during the responsible development of mineral resources.
It is, therefore, Anglo’s policy to develop mutually beneficial relationships with Indigenous communities in the areas where we explore and mine.
Our approach has won praise and encouraged us to extend our involvement with indigenous groups. Using our Socio-Economic Assessment Toolbox (SEAT) we now have specific guidance and protocols for our engagement with indigenous groups.
Some of our most extensive and rewarding engagements have been with the Sami people of Finnmark in Northern Norway. When we wanted to explore the rich mineral potential of the area, we knew we would have to engage with the Sami, who have established a close relationship with their environment.
By working with the Sami to understand what impact our operations might have had on their way of life, we were able to minimise any disruption to their traditions and also gain an exploration licence – the first ever granted to a major mining company for the area.
To discover the positive relationships Anglo American have developed with indigenous populations and local communities, click on the case studies below:
