Sandfire, Yugunga-Nya sign deal for cultural heritage protection at DeGrussa mine (updated)

Sandfire Resources

21/12/2023 22:59

(Adds background in paragraph 2, details in paragraph 3
onwards)
       Dec 22 (Reuters) - Australia's Sandfire Resources
 SFR.AX  and indigenous group Yugunga-Nya signed a framework
agreement to map issues, steps and relationships for the ongoing
protection of cultural heritage at the DeGrussa copper mine, the
company said on Friday. 
    Sandfire said last month it had damaged an artefact scatter
at its Monty cooper mine in 2017 and 2018, and that it had
informed traditional owners and the state's heritage regulator.
    The company acknowledged it failed to consult with the
Yugunga-Nya people before it proceeded to disturb the artefact
scatter sites and caused damage.
    "While we cannot undo what has been done, we can make sure
we do the right thing as we seek to rebuild trust and earn the
respect of the Yugunga-Nya," said Sandfire CEO Brendan Harris.
    A law firm has commenced an external investigation at the
company's request to understand the process failures that led to
the disturbances of the artefact scatters and the time taken to
notify the aboriginal group.
    The findings of the investigation will be made available to
the Yugunga-Nya people before they are shared with the industry
and Sandfire's stakeholders. 
    Sandfire will continue to cooperate fully with the
Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage, as the agency
conducts its own investigation, the company said. 
    "Sandfire need to show they are sincere because since 2016
they have showed nothing but disrespect for Yugunga-Nya people
and Aboriginal culture," Yugunga-Nya elder Andrew Gentle Senior
said.
    "I hope the recent steps the current leadership have taken
shows they are prepared to work hard to rebuild the
relationship," he added.
     

 (Reporting by Echha Jain in Bengaluru; Editing by Krishna
Chandra Eluri)
 ((Echha.Jain@thomsonreuters.com;))