“I imagine trade has an necessary function to play in acknowledging, and constructing consciousness of, the historical past of Indigenous folks in Canada and the crucial significance of pursuing the aims of reconciliation,” mentioned David Cates, Denison president and CEO, in an announcement. “As such, the adoption of an Indigenous peoples coverage is a notable step in our firm’s journey to deliver reconciliation to the forefront of what we do and the way we do it.
“This coverage is supported by our board of administrators, on behalf of Denison shareholders, and is welcome amongst all ranges of employees throughout the group – from the manager staff to operational personnel,” he added.
Denison operates on Canadian lands which might be within the conventional territories of Indigenous peoples, particularly in Saskatchewan. The corporate’s exploration and mining properties are in areas lined by Treaty 6, Treaty 8 and Treaty 10 and embrace lands of the Cree, Dakota, Dene, Lakota, Nakota, Saulteaux, and throughout the homeland of the Metis.
The flagship Wheeler River uranium undertaking is situated throughout the boundaries of Treaty 10, within the conventional territory of English River First Nation and the Metis. The undertaking is advancing to the feasibility stage as an in situ restoration (ISR) producer. Wheeler River is owned 90% and operated by Denison. The remaining 10% is owned by JCU (Canada).
Denison’s Indigenous coverage was developed primarily based on the corporate’s experiences with, and suggestions and steering, from Indigenous communities with whom the corporate is engaged. This method ensures that the coverage captures a mutual imaginative and prescient for reconciliation. The coverage was developed alongside the strains of the requirements and rules in The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and the Name to Motion 92 (Enterprise and Reconciliation) from Canada’s Reality and Reconciliation Fee (TRC).
The coverage identifies 5 key areas of motion that may help a constantly evolving reconciliation motion plan: engagement, empowerment, setting, employment, and schooling. With this framework, Denison is striving to deliver the rules of reconciliation to all features of its operations.
(This text first appeared within the Canadian Mining Journal)