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Indigenous Peoples’ insight is shaping our approach to community engagement in mine closure
Lucy is our Communities and Social Performance Specialist for Closure projects in the US, working across multiple sites where she helps build relationships with communities, legislators and local stakeholders. As an Alaska Native from Kenai, her cultural identity deeply informs her approach to mining – rooted in respect and aspiring to leave a lasting legacy.
“In my role, I’m often the bridge between mining operations and Indigenous communities. I take that responsibility very seriously. I’m Alaska Native myself – my people are from Kenai Alaska – and I carry that with me into every meeting, site visit and engagement plan. It’s my job to help closure teams engage respectfully and effectively with Tribes and communities. On any given day, I might be delivering cultural awareness training, building engagement strategies, or connecting in person to foster meaningful relationships with the communities we work with. Being physically present in a community really matters. In a world where virtual meetings now feel like the default, there’s something powerful about taking the time to be physically present, and saying, ‘I'm here to listen’.”
“One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned in this role is that you should build relationships long before you might actually need something. If you wait until you need something – approval, a signature, a partnership agreement – you’re already starting from a place of potential mistrust. Communities will ask, “Why are you here now?” And they have every right to. Early, honest and frequent engagement with communities isn’t just good practice – it’s foundational to responsible mining. When you build trust early and approach people with transparency and humility, you often find they’re more interested in dialogue than demands.
That’s why I always start with respect. I respect that it’s their land, their community, their history, and their future.
I also think about how mining could have impacted my own family in a small town, and I try to bring that empathy into every engagement. I don’t assume we’ll all share the same views, and I show up ready to listen. A positive relationship doesn’t mean we will agree on everything, but it means we can come to the table and respectfully discuss a solution. I’ve seen firsthand how this approach can change outcomes. At our site in Death Valley, California, we didn’t have a relationship with the local Tribe when I started. We were making decisions about land donations, and it became clear we needed to build that relationship from scratch. Fast forward a few years, and we have had an open dialogue – to the point that we’ve just collaborated on designing t-shirts together. That might sound small, but it’s symbolic of how far we’ve come. In the work I do, success is measured in trust, relationships and the long-term wellbeing of communities. I want to be known as someone who built bridges between industry and community, helped shift the mindset from transactional engagement to transformational relationships, and contributed to decisions that left communities and Tribes in a better position than before.”
“I’ve been working this year on a project that’s close to my heart – valuing Indigeneity as a skillset in the workplace. Through the Rio Inspire program – a 6-month leadership development program for Indigenous employees – I’ve used my own experiences to help educate others on how to work with Tribes. Being Indigenous isn’t just a personal identity. It’s a source of knowledge, perspective and relational understanding that’s incredibly valuable in our industry. It is an honour to be nominated for the program and it proves that representation matters. Having Indigenous people in leadership roles helps pave the way for others to follow, and adds our voices, deep experience and expertise to important conversations about future decisions. Mining will continue, and Rio Tinto will continue, whether Indigenous people are part of the conversation or not. But if our voices are in the room, we can help shape the decisions that affect our communities. I’ve seen how my voice has changed outcomes, and I want other young Indigenous professionals to know that their voices matter too. Even if you don’t agree with everything, being in the room means you have a chance to make a difference.”