Effective Community Engagement during the Environmental Assessment of a Mining Project in the Canadian Arctic

The Back River Project is an approved gold mine in Nunavut, Canada owned by Sabina Gold & Silver Corp. Sabina developed a comprehensive community engagement program during the environmental assessment phase of the Project to share information, receive and address local feedback and concerns, and develop productive relationships in support of Project advancement. This paper outlines Sabina’s engagement program, successes and challenges encountered from the perspective of a mineral developer, and insights obtained for effective community engagement in a Canadian Arctic context. The program has been commended by observers and is consistent with best practice models. Sabina’s experiences revealed the importance of engaging early and often using a context-specific approach; comprehensive record-keeping and reporting; the meaningful incorporation of community perspectives and Traditional Knowledge; and focusing on long-term relationships, partnerships, and local benefits. Effective community engagement subsequently played a key role in Sabina securing major licenses and permits for Project advancement.