At Skeena, we are dedicated to building positive relationships with our people, communities and other stakeholders and contributing to their prosperity and well-being.
Our social license to operate is grounded in our partnership with the Tahltan Nation, which now includes the updated Section 7 consent‑based agreement under British Columbia’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act.
Relationships with Indigenous Peoples
Skeena provides one of the highest levels of employment to Indigenous people in B.C.’s mining sector. In 2024, over 21% of our workforce was Indigenous. Indigenous employees participate in key roles at Skeena, from core cutters to engineers and site superintendents, to senior executives.
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Our flagship mine, Eskay Creek, is located within Tahltan Territory in northwest BC. Symbolic of true partnership, the Tahltan are equity shareholders in Skeena and decision-making team members, representing transparency, trust, respect and shared interests. We offer a mentorship program for Tahltan students and recent graduates to develop the leaders of tomorrow. In addition, we support and partner with Tahltan-affiliated businesses and entities. To date, these partnerships resulted in over C$200 million in contracts, wages, purchases and donations, reflecting our commitment to Indigenous partnerships.
The health and safety of our workforce is Skeena’s top priority, anchored on our goal of ensuring “everyone safe, every day.” Our Health and Safety Policy sets out our commitments and standards and comes to life through our Health and Safety Management System, which encompasses our safety programs, procedures and initiatives.
Our “Safety Starts with Me” training promotes and reinforces our strong safety culture. We engage our people in identifying and addressing risks and encourage a speak-up environment. All visitors to Eskay Creek also receive a site orientation covering health and safety protocols from our Health & Safety Team.
As a remote mine site, Eskay Creek must be prepared to respond to any emergencies that may arise. Our Mine Emergency Response Plan defines the procedures, roles and responsibilities for our emergency response program. We regularly run test simulations and evacuation drills to ensure that our people are prepared to respond appropriately to a variety of situations, including extreme weather events, wildfires, vehicle accidents, hydrocarbon spills and medical emergencies.
Our people are the heartbeat of Skeena so our goal is to be a great employer. We offer competitive compensation and benefits, career development opportunities and a supportive environment to enable employees to succeed.
We believe strongly in diversity and the value of having an inclusive, equitable culture. It’s part of who we are and helps us be a better employer, business and community partner. We pride ourselves in our ability to include many voices and perspectives in our decision-making that reflect the communities in which we work. As part of our commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace, we continue to have strong representation of women and Indigenous employees at all levels of our Company.
We’re serious about our human rights responsibilities and take meaningful steps to respect and protect the human rights of all our stakeholders throughout our operations and supply chain. Our commitment is enshrined in Skeena’s Environmental and Social Responsibility Policy, which states that we support and respect internationally recognized human rights and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People.
We also have a Workplace Bullying and Harassment Policy that articulates our zero tolerance for discrimination based on religion, race, color, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, physical or mental disability, or national or ethnic origin. The policy is aligned with the BC Human Rights Code, Canadian Human Rights Act and Canada Labour Code.
Our projects are based in Canada where human rights are protected by provincial and federal laws aligned with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). UNDRIP recognizes the rights of Indigenous people and requires their free, prior and informed consent for any activity that affects their traditional lands, territories and natural resources. In our home province of BC, there is also the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA) that establishes UNDRIP as the provincial framework for reconciliation with Indigenous people, including Canada’s First Nations.
Building and sustaining positive relationships with our host communities is important to us. Our Community Relations team participates in local events such as cultural celebrations and festivals, meets with community members and shares updates on the latest news and plans at Skeena.
Through donations, sponsorships and gifts-in-kind, we actively support many community organizations and initiatives that promote education, wellness, arts, culture and language. Examples of our recent support include Literacy Camp, Dease Lake Grad, Iskut Youth Wellness, Tahltan Hockey Teams, Gitanyow Wolverines U13 Basketball Team, and more.
As part of our approach, we choose programs and partner with community organizations that align with our corporate giving priorities.
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