How Agnico Eagle’s community engagement programs build trust.

In 2021 Agnico Eagle established the Kivalliq Inuit Elders Advisory Committee, a group which provides invaluable guidance to Nunavummiut and our Nunavut operations teams.

Comprised of 21 Elders from the communities of Baker Lake, Chesterfield Inlet, Rankin Inlet, Whale Cove, and Arviat the Elders’ Committee not only keeps local communities informed about Agnico Eagle’s mining activities and future plans, but it also provides Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit (IQ), a body of Inuit traditional knowledge, and Inuit Societal Values (ISV), a set of guiding community principles, so that it can be integrated into our exploration, planning, workforce, wellness, and operational plans. 

As an approach to building community engagement and trust, this Elders’ Committee is innovative, collaborative, and unique:

• Innovative because the Elders are able to provide guidance on topics such as traditional place names and how to communicate technical features into plain language before Agnico Eagle proceeds with any impact assessment processes. This gives a powerful voice to the Elders prior to decision making.

• Collaborative because community goals are the basis of all discussions. Local leaders identify long-term goals, such as Inuit training and respect for traditions. By naming exploration sites based on traditional place names, for example, the community goal of keeping local names alive is achieved.

• Unique because it enables Elders to meet independently and provide advice on topics that they choose to emphasize such as well-being initiatives for Inuit workers at mine sites.

“We value the Elders’ Committee’s guidance on key aspects of our work,” says Suzanne Leclair, Senior Advisor, Stakeholder Engagement. “They help us identify knowledge gaps early in the design of a mining project and bring forward questions from communities to further their understanding of impacts and mitigation measures. The Committee also identifies mine-related training opportunities for Indigenous and younger generations, while providing us with advice on how to better ensure the well-being of Indigenous peoples at our remote sites.”