20 April 2023
ArcelorMittal becomes the first mining company in Quebec to have the Guardians of Nitassinan join its team
Port-Cartier, April 20, 2023 – ArcelorMittal Mines and Infrastructure Canada (“ArcelorMittal”) is proud to announce that its Environment and Sustainable Development team now includes three Guardians of Nitassinan, whose mission is to watch over the traditional land of the Innu. These guardians were trained in the community of Uashat mak Mani-utenam and will conduct environmental monitoring and sampling to assess the state of the land, water and wildlife and to study the impacts of climate change and resource development in Nitassinan.
“It is imperative that we respect the traditions, land, and culture of local communities where we operate. Having the Guardians of Nitassinan as part of our team not only presents an additional step towards environmental integrity, but also increases our understanding of the cultural ties and traditions of the Innu People. We are proud to be the first mining company in Quebec to take this step,” said Stefan Buys, Executive Vice President, and CEO of ArcelorMittal Mining.
“We are thrilled to welcome the Guardians of Nitassinan on our team. We want to build close ties with our Innu partners through initiatives like these that bring our respective communities together. We are also continuing to raise awareness among our employees about the importance of respecting Innu culture and traditions,” said Mapi Mobwano, president and CEO of ArcelorMittal Mining Canada.
The Innu community of Uashat mak Mani-utenam has been living in Nitassinan, their ancestral land, for thousands of years. They have a unique connection to their land and its environment. That is why Innu Takuaikan Uashat mak Mani-utenam (“ITUM”) created the Guardians of Nitassinan’s project to ensure the continued use and development of land, water and wildlife management and protection practices in accordance with traditional Innu knowledge.
“ITUM is very pleased that community members will be able to help protect Nitassinan and its wildlife,” said Mike McKenzie, chief of ITUM. “Having our environmental expertise and leadership recognized is critical. We applaud ArcelorMittal’s collaboration in training and hiring the Guardians of Nitassinan.”
About ArcelorMittal Infrastructure Canada
and ArcelorMittal Mining Canada
Subsidiaries of ArcelorMittal, a world’s leading steel and mining company and among the top five producers of iron ore products globally, ArcelorMittal Infrastructure Canada (“AMIC”) and ArcelorMittal Mining Canada G.P. (“AMMC”) are two complementary companies operating in Quebec’s North Shore region. AMIC ensures the transportation of concentrate between Mont-Wright and Port-Cartier and operates a seaport at Port-Cartier, allowing transportation and shipping of AMMC products to four continents. AMMC produces concentrate and iron oxide pellets for the steel market. The two companies employ over 2,500 people, making ArcelorMittal the biggest employer on the North Shore.
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