Traditional Owners whose cultural heritage was destroyed by a copper mine have accepted an apology from senior management after meeting on Country in the Pilbara, but say it will take more than words to rebuild trust.
Sandfire admitted in a statement last month to the Australian Stock Exchange that the company had destroyed Yugunga-Nya artefacts on a number of occasions, dating back to 2017 at its Monty project, about 150km north-east of Meekatharra.
The company did not notify either the Traditional Owners or the Western Australian government at the time.
"We are not getting married, engaged, or even dating Sandfire," Yugunga-Nya Elder Andrew Gentle Snr said.
"We still distrust Sandfire because they destroyed our heritage and didn't bother to tell us."
Mining trucks at the DeGrussa Coppper Mine for Sandfire Resourses NL in Western Australia. Source: AAP / Tony McDonough
"Sandfire need to show they are sincere because since 2016 they have showed nothing but disrespect for Yugunga-Nya people and Aboriginal culture," he said.
"I hope the recent steps the current leadership have taken show they are prepared to work hard to rebuild the relationship."
Sandfire and the Yugunga-Nya made a joint announcement on Friday to the ASX about the signing of a framework agreement designed to map issues, steps and relationships that will lead to the ongoing protection of cultural heritage at Sandfire's DeGrussa operation.
The Traditional Owners asked the company in 2016 to be involved in the management and protection of their cultural heritage sites and material in the mining lease.
Sandfire conceded that if the company had wished to disturb artefacts within the Monty mining lease, it should have consulted with the Yugunga-Nya to determine their cultural significance and undertaken detailed recording of the artefacts.
Then, if it still decided to proceed, Sandfire should have considered lodging Section 18 application, under the WA Aboriginal Heritage Act.
Sandfire chief executive Brendan Harris said the company was 'deeply sorry'.
"We wish to extend our sincere gratitude to the Yugunga-Nya for the time they spent with us on Country, the stories they shared and the opportunity they have provided for us to work together to ensure we protect their cultural heritage as we undertake our closure and rehabilitation activities at DeGrussa," he said.
"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."
The WA Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage is conducting an investigation.
Sandfire has also hired lawyers to investigate the process failures that led to the disturbance of the artefacts and the time taken to notify the Yugunga-Nya, saying the findings will be shared with the Traditional Owners.
