Indigenous Peoples and Traditional Community - ESG
Indigenous Peoples and Traditional Community
Mining is an activity that is directly connected to the territory where mineral resources are available, and for its realization in a sustainable manner it is essential that the rights of Indigenous Peoples and Traditional Communities that live or use these territories for their traditional practices are respected.
Vale works with a focus on constructive relationships, of mutual benefits, based on respect for cultural diversity and the rights of these populations, recognizing the differentiated relationship they have with the territory, which involves not only physical and socioeconomic aspects, but also cultural and spiritual.
Commitments
Our relationship with Indigenous Peoples and Traditional Communities is guided by Vale's Global Human Rights Policy, which is aligned with the main international benchmarks related to the theme, such as the UN Guiding Principles for Business and Human Rights, the Equator Principles and the Positioning of the International Council on Mining and Metals on Mining and Indigenous Peoples, Convention No. 169 of the International Labor Organization, the UN Global Compact, the Global Reporting Initiative, IFC Performance Standard No. 07, and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, as well as the laws provided for in the countries where Vale operates.
- Building a Relationships of Trust and Mutual Respect for Rights and Interests;
- Structured, Prior and Continuous Dialogue;
- Training of employees, third parties and service providers;
- Contribution to the ethno-development of these populations;
- Respect and promotion of rights, cultures, customs, heritage and the livelihood of Indigenous Peoples and Traditional Communities.
- Consider in the planning of the relationship with Indigenous Peoples and Traditional Communities the characterization of communities and the analysis of stakeholders (matrix of stakeholders), based on available information, external and internal sources, of the territory and of the peoples and communities, such as ethnographic and socio-environmental studies, theses and/or publications, existing and/or completed relationship plan, socio-environmental investments, lawsuits and/or settlements;
- Implement a structured and continuous process of dialogue with Indigenous Peoples and Traditional Communities located in the areas of influence of Vale's projects, observing the specificities of these populations and their social and political organization, using appropriate forms of communication, language and time;
- Plan, prepare and implement studies and programs for mitigation and/or compensation of the impacts of the projects, enabling active participation, and gender and generational representativeness of Indigenous Peoples and Communities, respecting their different forms of social and political organization, as well as carrying out the monitoring of these programs with a view to evaluating, conducting the necessary adjustments to, and reporting to official authorities the results;
- Adopt an integrated view of the territories, with a view to identifying and mitigating potential impacts, including the various activities of Vale and the Indigenous Peoples and Traditional Communities inserted there, considering that the relationship between these communities and their territories involves not only physical and socioeconomic aspects, but also cultural and cosmological aspects;
- Encourage the active participation of Indigenous Peoples and Traditional Communities in resolving issues related to Vale's activities, which generate risks and/or impacts on these populations, allowing free, prior and informed consultation and consent, as well as monitoring compliance with measures of control and/or mitigation;
- Encourage the creation of management committees, boards or other types of governance mechanisms, respecting their specificities and ensuring, whenever possible, gender and generational representativeness, which enable the effective participation of these populations in building joint solutions to address risks and impacts, and generate a positive legacy for Indigenous Peoples and Traditional Communities, and monitor these actions;
- Document the consultation process and prior, free and informed consent, as well as the decisions made in participatory forums and committees, ensuring the transparency of the participatory and/or decision-making process and the maintenance of Vale's activities;
- Act so that Vale's commitments to these populations are aligned with the relationship guidelines, and that they contribute to the consolidation of rights to socio-cultural diversity, environmental and socioeconomic sustainability, aiming at the ethno-development of Indigenous Peoples and Traditional Communities with which Vale interacts;
- Use and improve the approaches, assessment and monitoring tools for management of Relationship with Indigenous Peoples and Traditional Communities;
- Disclose Vale's response and listening channels to Indigenous Peoples and Traditional Communities, including contacts with Community Relations professionals, ensuring the registration of all demands in the appropriate tool (SDI), their management, and response to communities according to deadlines established in the current policies and/or agreed with the communities;
- Make sure that unresolved demands are addressed, through available governance and that, if they are not solved, they are escalated to higher decision-making levels;
- Periodically evaluate the perception of the relationship between Vale and Traditional Peoples and/or communities, through research in a format and language appropriate to these populations, enabling a process of continuous improvement;
- In the event of conflict of interests that escalates to a potential crisis or conflict, exhaust all dialogue alternatives, guide the projects, and collaborate with the other professionals involved, ensuring that there is no violation of human rights of Indigenous Peoples and Traditional Communities.
- Establish dialogue with governmental and non-governmental institutions, which represent the rights and interests of these populations, supporting Indigenous Peoples and Traditional Communities in accessing them, whenever possible;
We have relationships with 26 Indigenous Peoples groups and 57 Traditional Communities in different countries. In Brazil, where most of our activities are located, we relate to 13 groups of the following Indigenous Peoples:
Our Management
See here the list of listening channels and responses provided by Vale
- Alô Ferrovia: 0800-285-7000.
- Reparation channels: Toll-free via the Repair Service Center portal (0800-0310831) and Indemnities (08008881182).
- Contact us: https://vale.com/contact-us
- Ethics and Conduct Channel: Toll-free via phone, e-mail and electronic form or personally guaranteeing anonymity. https://vale.com/whistleblower-channel
- Studies and assessments of risks and impacts,
- Programs and projects for impact management,
- Relationship management: listening, response and interaction mechanisms;
- Risk Management;
- Training programs;
- Management of routine engagement with indigenous peoples and traditional communities;
- Voluntary Social Investment.
KPI Report
Risk Vision
Goals and Deadlines
- Implement the global process of integrated management of the relationship with Indigenous Peoples and Traditional Communities;
- Expand engagement with Indigenous Peoples and support for ethno-development actions;
- Establish long-term agreements, with mutual benefits and respect for the specificities of Indigenous Peoples and Traditional Communities with which we relate;
- Strengthen risk and impact management processes;
- Expand the coverage of training programs for employees and contractors.
Perspectives
Positive legacy
Click here and see the photos of the project
Tradicional ktichen – Novo Planeta Village
Conversation House – Awá Village
Model house
Cultural Center – Maçaranduba Village
Redario -Nova Samyã Village
Tradicional kitchen – Nova Samyã