Indigenous, Traditional and Tribal Peoples are critical partners and stakeholders for South32. We seek to work collaboratively with Indigenous, Traditional and Tribal Peoples to preserve cultural heritage and advance opportunities for economic participation and social inclusion.
Throughout the mining lifecycle, we engage with and learn from Indigenous, Traditional and Tribal Peoples so we can understand their aspirations, interests and perspectives.
We acknowledge and pay our respects to the Indigenous, Traditional and Tribal Peoples of the lands, waters and territories on which South32 is located and where we conduct our business around the world. We respect and acknowledge the unique cultural and spiritual relationships that Indigenous, Traditional and Tribal Peoples have to the lands, waters and territories, and that these relationships underpin their physical, spiritual, cultural and economic wellbeing.
We respect the collective rights of Indigenous, Traditional and Tribal Peoples, including the right to self-determination, and the right to enjoy and maintain their traditional knowledge, distinctive spiritual practices and traditional ways of life.
We understand many Indigenous, Traditional and Tribal Peoples have experienced historical, and often continuing, disadvantage due to factors such as inequality, racism, mistreatment and intergenerational trauma through dispossession.
We respect and utilise regional terms and, where possible, recognise and use the specific names as identified by a group, supporting self-identification.
We are committed to building strong relationships that enable us to work in partnership with Indigenous, Traditional and Tribal Peoples. We seek to contribute to their cultural wellbeing and deliver long-term opportunities, through employment, procurement, social investment and training. This commitment, and the long-term nature of our operations, enables us to develop and foster lasting relationships.
Our commitment to Indigenous, Traditional and Tribal Peoples engagement is supported by our Board-approved Sustainability Policy and managed through our internal social performance standard, which is supplemented by operational procedures that account for local and regional operating conditions and regulatory requirements.
We comply with local laws, and where applicable law differs from the commitments in this approach, we seek to follow the higher standard. Where there is a conflict between local law and this approach, we will comply with applicable law while seeking to meet our Indigenous, Traditional and Tribal Peoples engagement commitments.
Our Board has ultimate responsibility for our company’s governance and strategic direction. Our Sustainability Committee assists the Board in its oversight of our sustainability management, performance, assurance and reporting practises. This includes endorsing our publicly disclosed Indigenous, Traditional and Tribal Peoples engagement commitments to the Board for approval, and monitoring the adequacy and effectiveness of our management approach.
Management accountability is assigned to our Chief Legal and External Affairs Officer, with responsibility for implementation within the mandate of External Affairs.
This approach applies to all Directors, management, employees, contractors and third parties who act on behalf of South32. We endeavour to influence our non-operated joint ventures to support the adoption of standards of conduct consistent with ours, as relevant within the limits of the joint venture arrangements.
Our approach will be reviewed every two years, or more frequently, if necessary, so it remains relevant and appropriate to South32’s Indigenous Traditional and Tribal Peoples engagement. It was considered by the Board Sustainability Committee, and approved by our Chief Executive Officer in September 2023.
