Rio Tinto Destroyed 46,000-Year-Old Aboriginal Heritage Site at Juukan Gorge

Summary

On 24 May 2020, Rio Tinto detonated explosives at the Juukan Gorge in Western Australia's Pilbara region as part of the expansion of its Brockman 4 iron ore mine, destroying two rock shelters of exceptional cultural and archaeological importance to the Puutu Kunti Kurrama and Pinikura (PKKP) peoples. Archaeological evidence from one of the shelters demonstrated human occupation extending back approximately 46,000 years. Excavations had recovered thousands of artefacts, including a grinding stone approximately 30,000 years old and fragments of an approximately 4,000-year-old hair belt. Australia's parliamentary inquiry subsequently described the site as having national and international significance. Australian Parliament – “Never Again” inquiry into the destruction of Juukan Gorge: https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Joint/Former_Committees/Northern_Australia_46P/CavesatJuukanGorge/Interim_Report The Australian parliamentary inquiry found that Rio Tinto had been provided with substantial evidence over many years about the cultural importance of the shelters and their significance as evidence of human occupation stretching back approximately 46,000 years. Crucially, the inquiry concluded that Rio Tinto had considered four mine expansion options and deliberately selected the only option that required destruction of the rock shelters because that option maximised access to the valuable iron ore deposit. Australian Parliament – Findings concerning Rio Tinto's decision-making: https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Joint/Former_Committees/Northern_Australia_46P/CavesatJuukanGorge/Interim_Report/section?id=committees%2Freportjnt%2F024579%2F75133 Although Rio Tinto had obtained legal permission under Western Australia's Aboriginal Heritage Act to disturb the site, archaeological work conducted after that approval demonstrated that the shelters were considerably more significant than previously understood. The parliamentary investigation examined Rio Tinto's subsequent decision-making, its consultation with the PKKP and why the destruction was allowed to proceed despite the new information. The destruction triggered widespread condemnation and a parliamentary inquiry entitled “Never Again.” The committee said the blast had destroyed a site representing 46,000 years of culture and history and devastated a place of personal, community, national and international significance. The corporate consequences were substantial. The controversy ultimately resulted in the departure of then-CEO Jean-Sébastien Jacques, along with other senior executives. Jacques was replaced following the company's handling of the Juukan Gorge disaster. Company response: Rio Tinto apologized for the destruction and acknowledged serious failures in its heritage-management and decision-making processes. The company subsequently committed to changing its approach to Indigenous cultural heritage, improving engagement with Traditional Owners and strengthening internal governance and oversight. Rio Tinto also committed to working with the PKKP on remediation and restitution. The company acknowledged that full reconstruction of the destroyed shelters is impossible, committed to protecting other parts of Juukan Gorge and said it would maintain a permanent moratorium on mining in the area around the gorge. Rio Tinto – Response to recommendations following Juukan Gorge: https://www.riotinto.com/-/media/content/documents/news/releases/2020/rt-jscna-recommendations-dec20.pdf Rio Tinto has subsequently supported stronger cultural-heritage safeguards and said reforms should ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are placed at the centre of decisions concerning protection of their cultural heritage. In 2022 the company stated that changes were necessary to ensure an incident like Juukan Gorge never happens again. Rio Tinto – Cultural heritage reforms following Juukan Gorge: https://www.riotinto.com/news/releases/2022/rio-tinto-welcomes-moves-to-strengthen-cultural-heritage-protection Key facts: Rio Tinto destroyed two Aboriginal rock shelters at Juukan Gorge on 24 May 2020; archaeological evidence demonstrated approximately 46,000 years of human occupation; thousands of artefacts had been recovered; Rio Tinto had substantial information about the shelters' cultural significance before their destruction; Australia's parliamentary inquiry found the company selected the only one of four mine-development options requiring destruction of the shelters because it maximised access to the iron ore body; the destruction triggered a major Australian parliamentary inquiry; senior executives including CEO Jean-Sébastien Jacques subsequently left the company; and Rio Tinto apologized, committed to remediation with the PKKP and introduced changes to its cultural-heritage practices. The case represents an exceptionally serious failure of corporate decision-making and Indigenous cultural-heritage protection because the destruction was irreversible. Australia's parliamentary investigation found that the company knew of the site's extraordinary significance yet proceeded with a mine plan requiring its destruction.