YINDJIBARNDI AND RIO TINTO UPDATE AGREEMENT

Yesterday, Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation and Rio Tinto signed an updated agreement to improve social and economic outcomes for Yindjibarndi people for generations to come.

The modernisation agreement was signed on-country at Jirndawirrinha, also known as Millstream.

The agreement will support Yindjibarndi’s ‘3C’ strategy which is focussed on strengthening culture, community and commercial opportunities.

Yindjibarndi CEO Michael Woodley said the agreement provides important recognition of the Yindjibarndi people.

“We haven’t changed who we are, and we haven’t moved anywhere, in terms of always having connection to our country,” he said.

“This agreement is based on an Indigenous Land Use Agreement, so it gives support or rights to mining proponents to work on our land.”

After Rio Tinto destroyed Juukan Gorge in 2020, the company committed to modernising all of its agreements with Traditional Owner groups in the Pilbara.

Board member Ben Wyatt said Rio Tinto had been forced to reconsider how it engages with Traditional Owners.

“Meaningful co-design with Traditional Owner groups is something that has come back into the core business of Rio Tinto,” Mr Wyatt said.

“This is an example of where it is working. You can see the celebration from Yindjibarndi people.

“From the board perspective, it’s fundamental to our social license. We’ve got to get this right.”