Sandfire Resources Limited (ASX: SFR) has released a joint media statement by Sandfire and the Yugunga-Nya following the announcement of a disturbance of artefact scatter at DeGrussa.
The joint statement reads:
Sandfire and the Yugunga-Nya announce 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. This reinstates the Yugunga-Nya’s request dating back to 2016 when they asked to be involved in the management and protection of their cultural heritage sites and material.
This agreement was possible because the Yugunga-Nya Elders invited Sandfire’s CEO and members of its Board to meet them on country.
Yugunga-Nya elder Bill Shay said: “This forum provided an important opportunity for the Yugunga-Nya Elders to explain first-hand the importance of our cultural heritage and the distress caused by Sandfire’s failure to protect two of our artefact scatters and the inexcusable delay in notifying us of the damage.”
Sandfire would like to again express its sincere apologies for the impact this entirely avoidable situation has had on the Yugunga-Nya and its gratitude for the time the Yugunga-Nya have taken to engage with the company’s CEO and Board. These discussions have allowed Sandfire to listen to the Yugunga-Nya’s concerns, better understand their wishes and respond to their needs, and there is a sense of optimism that these engagements and planned meetings in the future will provide the platform for Sandfire to rebuild trust and earn the respect of the Yugunga-Nya.
If Sandfire wished to disturb the artefact scatters 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 a Section 18 application, under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972 (WA). Sandfire ultimately failed to consult with the Yugunga-Nya, before it proceeded to disturb two artefact scatter sites and damaged artefacts in 2017 and 2018.
A leading law firm has commenced an external investigation, at Sandfire’s request, to better understand the process failures that led to the disturbance of the artefact scatters and the time taken to notify the Yugunga-Nya. The findings of the investigation will be made available to the Yugunga-Nya before they are shared with the industry and Sandfire’s stakeholders. Sandfire will separately, continue to cooperate fully with the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage, as it conducts its own investigation.
Yugunga-Nya elder Andrew Gentle Senior said: “We are not getting married, engaged, or even dating Sandfire. We still distrust Sandfire because they destroyed our heritage and didn’t bother to tell us. However, we want to try to rebuild trust. To do this, Sandfire’s senior management and the Board must actively work with us, not manage us. Sandfire need to show they are sincere because since 2016 they have shown nothing but disrespect for Yugunga-Nya people and Aboriginal culture. I hope the recent steps the current leadership have taken shows they are prepared to work hard to rebuild the relationship.”
Sandfire’s chief executive Brendan Harris said: “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.
“I know I speak for everyone involved with Sandfire when I say we are deeply sorry for the distress we have caused through our failure to protect artefact scatters prior to the construction of the Monty mine in 2017. 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.”
