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Our commitment to preserve and promote First Nations history and culture is central to our principles and a core element of all our activities. We work in partnership with the First Nations peoples of the land where our projects are located to ensure sites of cultural significance are identified and managed.

Preserving First Nations heritage globally

Respecting local culture is part of the Fortescue Value of Integrity. It has been an essential aspect of our operations in the Pilbara since we were established in 2003. As we expand into new countries and territories, it is important that our Values are upheld in all that we do, wherever we are. We respect and acknowledge the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the human rights principles it embodies by working together with First Nations people globally to manage Indigenous cultural heritage responsibly and sustainably. We focus on actively communicating with all stakeholders, including local communities, and seek to secure the consent of First Nations peoples for any activities on their traditional lands.

Fortescue Energy's Pecém Project in Brazil is a good example of our approach to engagement. The project’s public hearing that took place on 2 August 2023 regarding the Social and Environmental Feasibility Study for the H2V Plant in the Ceara state, was undertaken with great success. Over 320 people attended, including a broad cross-section of the community and inclusive of the local Indigenous peoples. The feasibility study was approved and feedback was positive on the whole, noting that Fortescue has been inclusive and respectful in its processes to date.

Protecting First Nations heritage sites

To determine the location, nature and significance of First Nations heritage sites within an area, we engage with First Nations peoples and heritage professionals to conduct archaeological and ethnographic heritage surveys, in accordance with our land access or heritage agreements. To date, we have surveyed 320,439 hectares of land for archaeological heritage and 2.94 million hectares for ethnographic heritage. Through our seven major Native Title agreements and many dozens First Nations heritage agreements, we have worked closely and transparently to manage 7,148 heritage places.