Consideration of First Nations’ cultural values in mine site rehabilitation by environmental professionals
Rehabilitation of mined land on First Nations’ country after mine closure must achieve particular criteria to be considered successful. Generally, these conditions are based on achieving a habitable condition that is more or less similar to analogue sites or to the pre–mining state. Rehabilitating a...
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:3bce3029b3fd4408a8527c901311ae8a 2024-01-21T10:06:11+01:00 Consideration of First Nations’ cultural values in mine site rehabilitation by environmental professionals Will Kemp Sean M. Bellairs Janine Joyce Jane Henderson 2023-12-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envc.2023.100757 https://doaj.org/article/3bce3029b3fd4408a8527c901311ae8a EN eng Elsevier http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S266701002300080X https://doaj.org/toc/2667-0100 2667-0100 doi:10.1016/j.envc.2023.100757 https://doaj.org/article/3bce3029b3fd4408a8527c901311ae8a Environmental Challenges, Vol 13, Iss , Pp 100757- (2023) Mine rehabilitation Aboriginal traditional owners Indigenous cultural values Thematic analysis Mining environmental professionals Environmental sciences GE1-350 article 2023 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envc.2023.100757 2023-12-24T01:47:26Z Rehabilitation of mined land on First Nations’ country after mine closure must achieve particular criteria to be considered successful. Generally, these conditions are based on achieving a habitable condition that is more or less similar to analogue sites or to the pre–mining state. Rehabilitating a site to a habitable condition requires the restoration of cultural values, as well as environmental and economic values. This study investigates the extent to which First Nations’ cultural values are considered in mine rehabilitation in northern Australia. Interviews were conducted with environment professionals who had experience rehabilitating mine sites on First Nations’ land in the Northern Territory, Australia. The participants were asked about their experiences restoring First Nations’ cultural values to mined land. Thematic analysis found six main themes: “Values” (which need to be restored); “Planning” (of rehabilitation activities); “Impediments/barriers” (to successful rehabilitation); “Solutions” (to the barriers); “Traditional Owners” and “Principles”. This study shows that mining environmental professionals argue that, with suitable political and corporate support, many cultural values could be restored. However, it was generally agreed that government oversight and regulation in relation to reinstatement of First Nations’ cultural values needed to be improved. Several participants suggested that greater consideration should be given to closure plans generally, to financial means to carry out rehabilitation, and specifically to planning to identify and address the rehabilitation of First Nations’ cultural values prior to approval. Other findings were also that First Nations’ cultural values and environmental values are closely aligned, and that consultation and effective communication with Traditional Owners are the key to integrating awareness of First Nations’ cultural values into mine rehabilitation practices. Article in Journal/Newspaper First Nations Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Environmental Challenges 13 100757 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
Mine rehabilitation Aboriginal traditional owners Indigenous cultural values Thematic analysis Mining environmental professionals Environmental sciences GE1-350 |
spellingShingle |
Mine rehabilitation Aboriginal traditional owners Indigenous cultural values Thematic analysis Mining environmental professionals Environmental sciences GE1-350 Will Kemp Sean M. Bellairs Janine Joyce Jane Henderson Consideration of First Nations’ cultural values in mine site rehabilitation by environmental professionals |
topic_facet |
Mine rehabilitation Aboriginal traditional owners Indigenous cultural values Thematic analysis Mining environmental professionals Environmental sciences GE1-350 |
description |
Rehabilitation of mined land on First Nations’ country after mine closure must achieve particular criteria to be considered successful. Generally, these conditions are based on achieving a habitable condition that is more or less similar to analogue sites or to the pre–mining state. Rehabilitating a site to a habitable condition requires the restoration of cultural values, as well as environmental and economic values. This study investigates the extent to which First Nations’ cultural values are considered in mine rehabilitation in northern Australia. Interviews were conducted with environment professionals who had experience rehabilitating mine sites on First Nations’ land in the Northern Territory, Australia. The participants were asked about their experiences restoring First Nations’ cultural values to mined land. Thematic analysis found six main themes: “Values” (which need to be restored); “Planning” (of rehabilitation activities); “Impediments/barriers” (to successful rehabilitation); “Solutions” (to the barriers); “Traditional Owners” and “Principles”. This study shows that mining environmental professionals argue that, with suitable political and corporate support, many cultural values could be restored. However, it was generally agreed that government oversight and regulation in relation to reinstatement of First Nations’ cultural values needed to be improved. Several participants suggested that greater consideration should be given to closure plans generally, to financial means to carry out rehabilitation, and specifically to planning to identify and address the rehabilitation of First Nations’ cultural values prior to approval. Other findings were also that First Nations’ cultural values and environmental values are closely aligned, and that consultation and effective communication with Traditional Owners are the key to integrating awareness of First Nations’ cultural values into mine rehabilitation practices. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Will Kemp Sean M. Bellairs Janine Joyce Jane Henderson |
author_facet |
Will Kemp Sean M. Bellairs Janine Joyce Jane Henderson |
author_sort |
Will Kemp |
title |
Consideration of First Nations’ cultural values in mine site rehabilitation by environmental professionals |
title_short |
Consideration of First Nations’ cultural values in mine site rehabilitation by environmental professionals |
title_full |
Consideration of First Nations’ cultural values in mine site rehabilitation by environmental professionals |
title_fullStr |
Consideration of First Nations’ cultural values in mine site rehabilitation by environmental professionals |
title_full_unstemmed |
Consideration of First Nations’ cultural values in mine site rehabilitation by environmental professionals |
title_sort |
consideration of first nations’ cultural values in mine site rehabilitation by environmental professionals |
publisher |
Elsevier |
publishDate |
2023 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envc.2023.100757 https://doaj.org/article/3bce3029b3fd4408a8527c901311ae8a |
genre |
First Nations |
genre_facet |
First Nations |
op_source |
Environmental Challenges, Vol 13, Iss , Pp 100757- (2023) |
op_relation |
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S266701002300080X https://doaj.org/toc/2667-0100 2667-0100 doi:10.1016/j.envc.2023.100757 https://doaj.org/article/3bce3029b3fd4408a8527c901311ae8a |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envc.2023.100757 |
container_title |
Environmental Challenges |
container_volume |
13 |
container_start_page |
100757 |
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1788696644951212032 |