Baffinland at PDAC 2022 – Matt Clark’s Blog

The biggest mining convention in the world has just wrapped up in Toronto, and I was one of the lucky 17,445 people who were there. I’m Matt Clark, Baffinland’s Senior Director of Community & Strategic Development and I live in Iqaluit.

The day I arrived in Toronto for the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) convention, the temperature topped 30 degrees celcius, needless to say it was a sharp contrast to the weather back at home in Iqaluit. But inside the air-conditioned walls of the Metro Toronto Convention Centre I was immediately comfortable, the ideas were flowing and I was happy to be able to share my knowledge and expertise, and learn from others.

On the job, I spend a lot of my time time working directly with the people of North Baffin. A role I have come to cherish because, on a daily basis, I learn as much, if not more, than I teach. That mindset and experience came full circle on the first day of PDAC, when I took part in a course on the Art and Science of Effective Community Engagement. I gained several new tools to assess how we listen and learn, and almost immediately felt more optimistic about expanding our training and support at the site and in the communities.

Throughout the three-day PDAC event, I made a point to attend most of the Indigenous Programming offered, including one key session on Partnership, Participation and ESG (Environmental and Social Governance). As a group, we discussed and debated how Indigenous participation in mining is shifting and how the participation of Inuit in all aspects of the industry is critical for future successes. While I know Baffinland is doing some great work in our outreach and engagements with the communities, I know that we need to talk about it more, and remind everyone of the company’s core values, including our commitment to sustainable development and our respect for the land and its peoples.

Along with the panels and presentations, PDAC also had a massive trade show - that’s where I had an inspiring encounter with the delegates from Northern College and Laurentian University. Both highlighted the education and training they offer, specifically related to mining. They were approachable and willing to work with me to bring great things to Nunavut, including an opportunity to provide post-secondary mine-related training to the communities. They invited me to visit their campuses, and I am excited about the potential for a strong partnership in the future.

For me, one of the top highlights of the convention was meeting Chad Norman Day, President of the Tahltan First Nation in Smithers, BC. He’s only 35, and but he has already been elected three times. Day is a decisive and impactful leader for his nation, and I find him very inspiring. When he speaks positively about mining, and the benefits the industry has created for his people, it gives me great hope for the future of our company and the communities I meet with every day. If we could build similar relationships to those that exist between the Tahltan Nation and mining in British Columbia, I could see a better future for all Nunavummiut. I truly believe these goals are within our reach.

With PDAC 2022 now in the books, it was back to the cooler, crisper air of Nunavut, where I look forward to sharing my new-found insights and knowledge with Baffinland and all of the Inuit communities.

ᐹᕙᓐᓛᓐᑯᑦ ᐅᔭᕋᒃᓯᐅᖅᑏᑦ ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᑎᑦᑎᔨᓪᓗ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᖏᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ (PDAC) 2022- ᒫᑦ ᑎᑎᕋᖅᑕᖓ

ᐊᖏᓛᖑᔪᖅ ᐅᔭᕋᖕᓂᐊᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑲᑎᓐᓂᐅᔪᖅ ᓄᓇᕐᔪᐊᒥ ᐱᔭᕇᖅᐸᓪᐊᓕᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍᑦ ᑐᕌᓐᑐᒥ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓚᐅᔪᓐᓇᓚᐅᖅᐳᖓ 17,445-ᖑᔪᓂᒃ ᐃᓄᖕᓂᑦ ᑕᐃᑲᓃᓚᐅᖅᑐᓂᑦ. ᐅᕙᖓ ᒫᑦ ᒃᓛᒃᑯ, ᐹᕙᓐᓛᓐᑯᑦ ᑐᑭᒧᐊᑎᑦᑎᔨ ᓄᓇᓕᓐᓂᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᖃᓄᖅᑑᕈᑎᒃᓴᓄᑦ ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᖃᓗᖕᓂᕐᒥᐅᑕᐅᓪᓗᖓᓗ.

ᐅᓪᓗᒥ ᑎᑭᖅᑲᐅᔪᖓ ᑐᕌᓐᑐᒧᑦ ᐅᑯᓄᖓ ᐅᔭᕋᒃᓯᐅᖅᑏᑦ ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᑎᑦᑎᔨᓪᓗ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᖏᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ (PDAC) ᑲᑎᒪᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ, ᐆᓇᕐᓂᖓ ᑎᑭᖅᑲᐅᔪᖅ 30, ᐅᖃᒃᑲᓐᓂᙱᒃᑲᓗᐊᕐᓗᖓ ᐊᔾᔨᒋᙱᓪᓚᕆᒃᑕᖓ ᓯᓚᖓ ᐊᖏᕐᕋᓐᓂ ᐃᖃᓗᖕᓂ. ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ ᐃᓯᖅᓯᒪᓪᓗᒍ ᓂᒡᓚᖅᑎᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐊᑭᓐᓇᖏᑦ ᒪᑐᕉ ᑐᕌᓐᑐᒥ ᑲᑎᒪᕝᕕᐅᔪᒥᑦ ᐊᑲᐅᓯᑲᐅᑎᒋᖅᑲᐅᔪᖓ, ᐃᓱᒪᒋᔭᐅᔪᑦ ᓴᖅᑭᑉᐸᓪᓕᐊᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᖁᕕᐊᒋᖅᑲᐅᔭᕋ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᓂᕋ ᐅᖃᓕᒪᐅᑎᒋᓪᓗᒍ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔭᒃᑲᑦ, ᐊᓯᓐᓂᓪᓗ ᐃᓕᑦᑎᒋᓪᓗᖓ.

ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔮᒥ, ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖃᑦᑕᖅᑐᖓ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᒋᓪᓚᕆᒃᖢᒋᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐅᐊᖕᓇᖓᓂ ᕿᑭᖅᑖᓘᑉ. ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔮᕋ ᖁᕕᐊᒋᓕᖅᓯᒪᔭᕋ ᓲᖃᐃᒻᒪ, ᖃᐅᑕᒫᑦ, ᐃᓕᑦᑎᕚᓪᓕᖃᑦᑕᖅᑐᖓ, ᐅᖓᑖᓄᓪᓘᓐᓃ, ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕈᑎᒋᕙᒃᑕᒃᑲᑦ. ᑕᐃᒫ ᐃᓱᒪᓪᓗᓂ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔭᖃᐅᖅᑐᓪᓗ ᐊᑕᖐᕈᑎᒋᓚᐅᖅᐸᕗᑦ ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅᐹᒥᒃ ᐅᔭᕋᒃᓯᐅᖅᑏᑦ ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᑎᑦᑎᔨᓪᓗ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᖏᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ (PDAC) ᑲᑎᒪᑎᓪᓗᒋ, ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᓚᐅᖅᑎᓪᓗᖓ ᓴᓇᐅᒐᓕᕆᓂᖅ ᐊᒻᒪ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖅᑐᓕᕆᓂᖅ ᐊᑑᑎᖃᑦᑎᐊᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ ᐃᓚᐅᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒥᒃ. ᐊᔪᕈᓐᓃᖅᐹᓪᓕᖅᑐᖓ ᓄᑖᓂᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᔾᔪᓯᕐᓂᒃ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖁᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᖃᓄᖅ ᓈᓚᖃᑦᑕᕐᒪᖔᑦᑕ ᐃᓕᑦᑎᖃᑦᑕᕐᒪᖔᑦᑕᓗ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᒃᐱᒋᑲᐅᑎᒋᔭᓐᓂ ᓂᕆᐅᖕᓂᖃᕐᓂᖅᓴᐅᓕᖅᖢᖓ ᐊᖏᒡᓕᒋᐊᕐᓗᒍ ᐱᓕᒻᒪᒃᓴᐅᑏᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᓱᖅᑕᐅᒃᑲᓐᓂᕐᓃᓪᓗ ᐅᔭᕋᖕᓂᐊᕐᕕᖕᒥᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂᓗ.

ᐊᑐᖅᑎᓪᓗᑕ ᐱᖓᓱᓂᒃ-ᐅᓪᓗᓂᒃ ᐅᔭᕋᒃᓯᐅᖅᑏᑦ ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᑎᑦᑎᔨᓪᓗ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᖏᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ (PDAC) ᑲᑎᒪᓂᐅᔪᖅ, ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖃᖅᑲᐅᓪᓗᖓᓗ ᐊᑕᖏᓗᒃᑖᐸᓗᒃᖢᒋᑦ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᓯᒪᔪᓄᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒃᓴᑦ ᐊᑐᐃᓐᓇᐅᔪᑦ, ᐱᖃᓯᐅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᐊᑕᐅᓯᖅ ᑲᑎᒪᓂᓪᓗᐊᑕᖅ ᑕᒪᒃᑯᓄᖓ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᒌᖕᓃᑦ, ᐃᓚᐅᓃᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᕙᑎᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᓄᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᐅᓚᑦᑎᔾᔪᑏᑦ (ESG). ᐃᓛᒃᑰᖅᖢᑕ, ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖃᖅᑲᐅᔪᒍᑦ ᐊᐃᕙᐅᑎᖃᖅᖢᑕᓗ ᖃᓄᖅ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐃᓚᐅᓂᖏᑦ ᐅᔭᕋᖕᓂᐊᕐᓂᕐᒥ ᓅᑉᐸᓪᓕᐊᑎᓪᓗᒋ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᖃᓄᖅ ᐃᓚᐅᓂᖏᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑕᒪᒃᑯᓂᖓᓗᒃᑖᖅ ᓴᓇᕝᕕᐅᔪᓂᑦ ᐱᒻᒪᕆᐅᓂᖓᓂᒃ ᓯᕗᓂᒃᓴᒥ ᑲᔪᓯᑦᑎᐊᖁᓪᓗᒋᑦ. ᐃᒪᐃᒃᑲᓗᐊᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔪᖓ ᐹᕙᓐᓛᓐᑯᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᑦᑎᐊᖅᓯᒪᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᑐᓴᕋᓱᐊᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᐃᓚᐅᑎᑦᑎᓪᓗᑎᒡᓗ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ, ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔪᖓ ᓱᓕ ᐅᖃᓪᓚᒃᑲᓐᓂᐅᔭᕆᐊᖃᕋᑦᑕ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᖅᑲᐃᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᑭᒃᑯᓕᒫᑦ ᑲᒻᐸᓂᐅᔫᑉ ᐱᒻᒪᕆᐅᒋᓪᓗᐊᑕᖅᑕᖏᓐᓂᒃ, ᐱᖃᓯᐅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐊᖏᖅᓯᒪᓂᕗᑦ ᐊᑯᓂᐅᔪᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᒃᐱᒍᓱᖕᓂᑦᑎᓐᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᒥᒃ ᐃᓄᖏᓐᓂᓪᓗ.

ᑲᑎᒪᔨᐅᔪᓪᓗ ᐃᓚᐅᓪᓗᑎᑦ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᓕᐊᖏᓐᓂᑦ ᓴᖅᑭᔮᖅᑎᑦᑎᓪᓗᑎᒃ, ᐅᔭᕋᒃᓯᐅᖅᑏᑦ ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᑎᑦᑎᔨᓪᓗ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᖏᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ (PDAC) ᐊᖏᔪᒻᒪᕆᖕᒥᒃ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔮᓂᑦ ᓴᖅᑭᔮᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᖅ - ᑕᐃᑲᓂᓗ ᑲᔪᖏᖅᓴᖅᑕᐅᓪᓚᕆᓚᐅᖅᐳᖓ ᑲᑎᒪᔭᖅᑐᖅᓯᒪᔪᓂᑦ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥ ᓯᓚᑦᑐᖅᓴᕐᕕᖕᒥ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓗᕋᓐᓴᓐ ᓯᓚᑦᑐᖅᓴᕐᕕᒡᔪᐊᖓᓂ. ᑕᒪᕐᒦᒃ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᔭᐃᓯᒪᔪᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐱᓕᒻᒪᒃᓴᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐊᑐᐃᓐᓇᐅᑎᑕᕐᒥᖕᓂᒃ, ᐱᓗᐊᖅᑐᒥᒃ ᐊᒃᑐᐊᔪᑦ ᐅᔭᕋᖕᓂᐊᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ. ᐅᐸᒍᓐᓇᓚᐅᖅᑖᒃᑲᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᖃᕈᒪᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐅᕙᓐᓂᒃ ᐱᐅᔪᓂᒃ ᑎᑭᑎᑦᑎᖁᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒧᑦ, ᐱᖃᐅᓯᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐱᕕᖃᓕᕐᓗᑎᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕆᐊᒃᑲᓐᓂᒐᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᐅᔭᕋᖕᓂᐊᕐᕕᖕᒧᑦ-ᐊᒃᑐᐊᔪᓄᑦ ᐱᓕᒻᒪᒃᓴᓃᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ. ᖃᐃᖁᔭᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᖓ ᓯᓚᑦᑐᖅᓴᕐᕕᒡᔪᐊᖓᓄᑦ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᒃᑐᖓ ᓴᙱᔪᒥᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᒋᑐᐃᓐᓇᕆᐊᖃᕋᑦᑎᒍᑦ ᓯᕗᓂᒃᓴᑦᑎᓐᓂ.

ᐅᕙᓐᓄᑦ, ᐊᑕᐅᓯᖅ ᐱᒻᒪᕆᐅᓛᖅ ᐃᖅᑲᐅᒪᔭᒃᑲ ᑲᑎᒪᓂᕐᒥ ᑲᑎᖢᒍ ᓵᑦ ᓄᐊᒪᓐ ᑕᐃ, ᐊᖏᔪᖅᑳᖅ ᑖᓪᑕᓐ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᔅᒥᑐᔅ, ᐳᕆᑎᔅ ᑲᓚᒻᒥᐊᒥᐅᖅ. ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑲᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅᑐᖅ 35-ᓂᒃ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ ᓂᕈᐊᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᓕᖅᑐᑦ ᐱᖓᓱᐊᖅᑎᖅ. ᑕᐃ ᐃᓱᒪᓕᐅᕆᑦᑎᐊᓲᖅ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᒃᑐᐃᓂᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᓯᕗᓕᖅᑎᐅᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᓄᓇᒥᓂ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᑲᔪᖏᖅᓴᐅᑎᑦᑎᐊᕙᐅᒋᔭᕋᔭ. ᐅᖃᓪᓚᓕᕌᖓᒥ ᐱᐅᔪᓂᒃ ᐅᖃᓪᓚᓲᖅ ᐅᔭᕋᖕᓂᐊᕐᓂᐅᑉ ᒥᒃᓵᓄᑦ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐱᕚᓪᓕᕈᑎᒃᓴᑦ ᓴᓇᕝᕕᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᓴᖅᑭᑕᐅᔪᑦ ᐃᓄᖁᑎᖏᓐᓄᑦ, ᓂᕈᐅᖕᓂᖃᑦᑎᐊᓕᖅᑎᑦᑎᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᓯᕗᓂᒃᓴᑦᑎᓐᓄᑦ ᑲᒻᐸᓂᐅᑎᓪᓗᑕ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓄᑦ ᑕᑯᖃᑦᑕᖅᑕᓐᓂ ᖃᐅᑕᒫᑦ. ᐋᖅᑭᒃᓯᔪᓐᓇᕈᒪ ᑖᓪᑕᓐ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐅᕋᖕᓂᐊᕐᓂᖅ ᐳᕆᑎᔅ ᑲᓚᒻᒥᐱᐊᒥ, ᑕᑯᓯᒪᓕᖅᐳᖓ ᓯᕗᓂᒃᓴᑦᑎᐊᕙᐅᓂᖅᓴᒥᒃ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥᐅᓕᒫᓄᑦ. ᐅᒃᐱᕈᓱᓪᓚᕆᒃᑐᖓ ᑕᒪᒃᑯᐊ ᑐᕌᒐᐅᔪᑦ ᑎᑭᐅᑎᔪᓐᓇᖅᑕᕗᑦ.

ᐅᔭᕋᒃᓯᐅᖅᑏᑦ ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᑎᑦᑎᔨᓪᓗ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᖏᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ (PDAC) 2022 ᑎᑎᕋᖅᓯᒪᓕᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ, ᐅᑎᕐᓗᑕ ᓂᒡᓚᓱᖕᓂᖅᓴᐅᔪᒧᑦ, ᓂᒡᓚᓱᒃᑐᒥᒃ ᐊᓂᖅᓵᖅᑐᕐᓇᖅᑐᒥᒃ ᓄᓇᕘᒻᒥ, ᓂᕆᐅᒃᐳᖓ ᑐᓴᖃᑎᒌᒍᑎᒋᓗᒋᑦ ᓄᑖᑦ-ᖃᐅᔨᔭᒃᑲᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᔾᔪᑎᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᓂᕐᓄᑦ ᐹᕙᓐᓛᓐᑯᓐᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᖏᓐᓂ.