Agnico Eagle partnered with Indigenous artist Caley Leroux to illustrate the RAP. Caley draws her inspiration for her art from the rich traditions, culture, and values of the Cree community in the Mushkegowuk territory. Future reports will feature art from other Indigenous artists and communities around the world.
Bridging Cultures & Communities
Throughout the month of September, Agnico Eagle will be highlighting some of the progress made in our reconciliation journey through 30 days of ReconciliACTION. This campaign invites all Agnico Eagle employees to learn about reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples with daily calls to action. As part of this campaign, we take a behind-the-scenes look at Agnico Eagle’s Reconciliation Action Plan, speaking with Melanie Corriveau, our Corporate Director of Community Relations.
Q: Can you tell us about Agnico Eagle's Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) and why it's significant?
Mélanie Corriveau: Agnico Eagle's reconciliation journey began in Canada and has since expanded globally, with many of our operations being located on the traditional territories of various Indigenous Peoples. Our RAP reinforces our commitment to reconciliation with Indigenous communities through 40 distinct actions grouped under seven pillars, developed collaboratively with Indigenous communities, employees, stakeholders, and rights holders.
Additionally, to our knowledge, Agnico Eagle is the first Canadian mining company to publish such a report, which makes us even prouder.
Q: What was the process of creating this RAP?
Mélanie: Our leaders have always aimed to be inclusive and forward-thinking in our relations with Indigenous communities. While we have had policies and various programs and initiatives to benefit Indigenous Peoples in place for many years across our operations, the RAP actually brings these into a central and comprehensive strategy. It complements and strengthens our existing efforts by providing a clear direction and actionable steps to support our progress towards reconciliation, and enabling effective implementation, continuous monitoring and the flexibility to adapt to the needs of the different regions where we operate. In early 2023, we benchmarked our Indigenous engagement policy against other companies and partnered with Creative Fire, an Indigenous-owned business, to ensure cultural competency throughout the process. They conducted a gap analysis of our practices and provided insights on where we stood compared to our industry peers globally.
Q: Where did you find Agnico Eagle stood in terms of Indigenous engagement?
Mélanie: We found ourselves leading the pack in areas like leadership, education, and employment, although there were some areas for improvement, like health and safety. This analysis helped us identify areas to enhance and communicate our strengths and weaknesses internally.
Q: How did you engage employees in this process?
Mélanie: Internal engagement was crucial. We conducted workshops with around 150 employees and leaders across our operations to gather their ideas and suggestions for reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples. This inclusive approach ensured that everyone had a voice in shaping the RAP. Our employees truly understood the importance of this work and were fully supportive.
Q: How did you involve Indigenous communities?
Mélanie: We offered various ways for Indigenous communities to participate, respecting their capacities and preferences. This included surveys, calls, and sharing circles. The Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC) also played a pivotal role in our engagement process.
This extensive engagement process spread over more than a year resulted in over 300 potential actions or initiatives for our RAP. We ultimately agreed on 40 actions grouped under seven pillars, ensuring each action had clear performance indicators and responsible parties. Our goal is to report on our progress by 2026, recognizing that some actions will require ongoing efforts.
It's important to note that the RAP is a living document, and we’ve scheduled ongoing engagement sessions with Indigenous nations to maintain this dialogue. The following email address has also been created for any feedback, comments, or engagement session requests: [email protected]
Q: Can you share some challenges or surprising moments during the process?
Mélanie: One surprising moment was when elders from the Algonquin Nation in Quebec weren't aware of the benefits we were providing to their community. This highlighted the importance of clear communication. Another notable moment is when Creative Fire consultants were invited to witness the Kivalliq Inuit Elders Advisory Committee identifying archaeological findings around Rankin Inlet. This unexpected opportunity was met with enthusiasm, and they thoroughly enjoyed the experience despite the cold Nunavut weather.
Q: What are the next steps for the RAP?
Mélanie: We are now focusing on implementing different actions in collaboration with all operation sites and several departments such as communications, human resources, sustainable development, supply chain and many others.
For example, Agnico Eagle’s Indigenous Peoples Engagement Policy has been updated, and in addition, we’re forming an Indigenous Advisory Committee which will provide ongoing guidance and oversight to ensure continuous consideration of Indigenous perspectives in our practices.
Q: How did your team handle the logistical challenges of this project?
Mélanie: It was a challenging yet rewarding experience. Managing schedules, traveling to remote areas, and ensuring effective communication were significant tasks. My team and I worked tirelessly, even during holidays, to compile and refine the RAP content. It truly brought us closer together and reinforced our commitment to this important work.
Q: Any personal reflections on this journey?
Mélanie: On a personal note, this journey has been incredibly meaningful. My father, who worked with Indigenous communities, dreamt of contributing to reconciliation, and seeing that the work I do actually contributes to his reconciliation dream is profoundly moving. Professionally, I’m proud of our team’s dedication and the company’s leadership in advancing reconciliation.
Q: What feedback have you received on the RAP so far?
Mélanie: We’ve received positive feedback, especially on being the first Canadian mining company to publish a RAP. Indigenous business consultants have confirmed our leadership in this area, and we’ve made the RAP available in several languages, including English, French, and Inuktitut to ensure accessibility. We have also published a RAP Quick Guide – or summary version - which is available in Anicinabe, Cree, English, Finnish, French, Inuinnaqtun, Inuktitut, and Spanish. All versions are posted on our corporate website.
Q: How will the RAP impact Agnico Eagle’s global operations?
Mélanie: The RAP will guide our operations in Canada, Australia, Mexico and beyond regarding reconciliation efforts with Indigenous Peoples. Each region has contributed to the plan, and while some elements may not apply everywhere, the overarching principles of respect and collaboration remain consistent. For instance, reconciliation in Australia aligns closely with their existing frameworks, while in Mexico, we consider the unique context of Indigenous nations there.
Q: Any final thoughts on the importance of this RAP?
Mélanie: This RAP is more than a document; it’s a commitment from our company – from our leadership, board, and employees – to a journey of reconciliation and partnership with Indigenous communities. It signifies our dedication to ethical resource extraction and contributing positively to the broader reconciliation efforts in Canada and beyond. I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved and look forward to continuing this important work.
About Caley Leroux, the Indigenous artist who illustrated our inaugural RAP:
“The piece created for Agnico Eagle’s Reconciliation Action Plan is entitled Kištelihtâkosiwin, which means honour. Agnico Eagle’s commitment to Truth and Reconciliation was a large inspiration for starting this piece.
While creating this piece, it was important for me to showcase the collaboration with, and honouring of, Indigenous Peoples and the land from which Indigenous Peoples come from and closely identify with. The land, part of which Agnico Eagle operates upon throughout the world, is paramount to Cree culture. Cree People believe healing (physically, mentally, spiritually, and emotionally) often comes from the land. As is the nature of the mining process, land must be altered as operations commence.
Showcased in Kištelihtâkosiwin is the flourishing land as it is in both the pre-operation and post-operation forms. Cree culture is further represented in this piece through the woman singing and drumming, through the bear, and through the eagle, which all have significant meaning in Cree culture. Depicted in the river are two people canoeing. Portage via the waterways represents the deep-seeded roots in my home territory as this has been a traditional form of transportation and a means to survive and provide for families for hundreds of years. Honouring the land. Honouring tradition. Honouring commitment. Kištelihtâkosiwin”