Rio Tinto’s IOC Mining Company has won the Towards Sustainable Mining Development (VDMD) Environmental Excellence Award for its contributions to the Partnership for the Restoration of Abandoned Sites: Clean Up the Nitassinan. This initiative, undertaken in partnership with the Institute for Sustainable Development of the First Nations of Quebec and Labrador (FNQLIDD), focuses on the rehabilitation of former outfitters and dumpsites in Nitassinan, ancestral territory of the Innu nation of Uashat Mak Mani -Utenam, which are not the result of IOC activities, with the aim of restoring the territory to its original state.
Environmental specialists from the FNQLSDI, along with members of the Uashat Mak Mani-Utenam community, are actively engaged in the dismantling of disused infrastructure and the cleaning of abandoned facilities and sites. Using railcars and the QNS&L railway, running 418 kilometers to Sept-Îles, the project aims for the safe and efficient removal and relocation of materials, thus demonstrating IOC’s commitment to caring for the environment and collaboration with communities using their resources to support sustainable development initiatives beyond its usual operations.
IOC President and CEO Mike McCann said: “We are honored to receive this award which highlights our commitment to environmental responsibility and community engagement. Our collaboration with the FNQLSDI and the community of Uashat Mak Mani-Utenam demonstrates our commitment to land rehabilitation responsibly, while maintaining lasting relationships and creating a real impact. »
The general director of the FNQLSDI, Alain Bédard, declared: “We are delighted that this initiative can serve as an inspiration in terms of environmental responsibility and collaboration with First Nations. This project could not have had the expected impacts without the participation of IOC and members of the Uashat Mak Mani-Utenam community. We hope that the successes of this project will serve as examples. »
This initiative improves IOC’s understanding of Innu land use and traditional know-how while building ties and deepening relationships with various communities. Building strong collaborative relationships beyond IOC’s usual operations is key to fostering trust and supporting local communities, a principle Rio Tinto champions within the mining sector.