In 2022, the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB) designated Silver-level standing in its Progressive Aboriginal Relations (PAR) program to Hudbay’s Manitoba Business Unit. Hudbay is one of only two mining companies to achieve a Silver-level or higher certification, and it recognizes our efforts to foster reconciliation and prioritize support for Indigenous businesses.
PAR’s certification program includes independent and third-party verification of company performance against measurable outcomes and initiatives in four areas: leadership actions, employment, business development and community relationships. A jury composed of Indigenous business professionals makes the final determination on status.
The PAR program’s criteria have informed several of the programs and activities we use to engage in positive and meaningful ways with the eight Indigenous COIs where we operate in Manitoba. These include:
- A dedicated Indigenous Liaison Officer (ILO) leads the team in building and sustaining relationships with Indigenous communities and is supported by a cross-functional PAR team.
- Internal targets track and measure our performance related to Indigenous employment and retention, procurement opportunities and engagement.
- Indigenous cultural awareness workshops have been conducted since 2012 for all employees and external resource individuals, and participation is highly encouraged. These workshops build understanding through ceremonies (e.g., smudging) and information sharing (e.g., traditional medicines, treaties, history of residential schools and contemporary issues).
- Hudbay’s Indigenous Circle for Everyone (ICE) provides an opportunity to share cultural teachings and enhance individual learning through invited speakers and Elders.
- Economic development workshops for the eight Indigenous COIs provide an opportunity to engage and explain company procurement policies and procedures.
Established in 2001, the PAR program supports participating companies’ journeys toward improving relationships between non- Indigenous and Indigenous peoples in Canada, and its certification program evaluates corporate performance every three years at the Bronze, Silver or Gold level. Since 2016, Hudbay has maintained at least a Bronze certification level status, and we will hold the Silver status until the next evaluation in 2025.