The importance of people and relationships in effective tailings management is a thread throughout the Global Tailings Standard. The importance of relationships was also highlighted in the 2020 Tailings Management webinar series. The 2021 tailings management workshop will focus on this topic in a 3 webinar series where we provide a framework on how to build relationships, how to engage meaningfully and how to incorporate western science with traditional knowledge. This framework will help participants develop approaches to fulfill the requirements of several principles of the Global Tailings Standard. We will be facilitating a two way conversation between indigenous and industry leaders, presenting case examples as well as a panel discussion on how to build meaningful relationships with communities that facilitates the social license to operate a tailings facility and fulfills the requirements of the Global Tailings Standard.

 

Each of the three sessions is from 1:00 to 2:30 pm PST. The following topics will be covered:

 

March 23

 

The importance of early engagement and building trust. Our speakers will discuss how to build trust and how this trust is a critical element for solving problems that inevitably develop over the mine’s life.

 

Confirmed speakers:

 

Nalaine Morin, Tahltan Nation

Justim Himmelright, Skeena Resources

Catherine Tegelberg, Newmont

 

May 18

 

Traditional knowledge and Western Science. Traditional knowledge is a mandated element in environmental and social impact assessments. In this session we take a closer look at how traditional knowledge and western science can be better integrated to develop an interdisciplinary knowledge base on which the design and operation of tailings facilities are based, as mandated by Principles 2 and 3 of the Global Tailings Standard.

 

Confirmed speakers:

 

Sylvie St. Jean, Director, Environment & Reclamation, Osisko Mining

Andrew Baisley, Senior Geoscientist, O'Kane Consulting

 

June 29

 

Risk Management. The Church of England Pension Board and other members of the Investor Mining and Tailings Safety Initiative, a consortium of 112 international investors, are requiring mining companies in their portfolios to adhere to the Global Tailings Standard. In this final session, we will look at how relationships between First Nations/indigenous communities and industry are being considered by the investor community as they assess the social and financial risk tailings represent to mining investments.

 

Confirmed speakers:

 

Allison Forrest, Responsible Investment Manager at Resource Capital Funds