How is Sustainable Investment and ESG Relevant to Australian Indigenous People?

What does it really mean to be socially and environmentally responsible for Kado Muir, Ngalia Cultural leader and Chairman of the National Native Title Council as the new generation of elders in the Australian First Nation community?

Mining projects have always made the effort to be respectful to the environment, or to at least minimise the impact their activities have on the ground, water and air. Nowadays, being responsible in actions is no longer an option. It is a permanent requirement. Responsible both environmentally, and also socially.

The progress is towards incorporating the Social and the Governance aspects. Previously, companies have turned a blind eye to governance, all in the name of business. As ESG grows stronger and takes on more importance, all these issues are now required to be addressed.

Noel Ong, CEO of Samso, had his first interview with Kado Muir in January, 2021 when they spoke about Sustainable Harvesting of Sandalwood Trees: Marnta Sandalwood. Mr. Muir is one of the new generation of elders in the Australian First Nation community who are carrying on the tradition of the people. For Noel, Mr. Muir has been trying to bridge a divide that had been carrying on for decades. The establishment of Mabo was a step forward and is one of many steps that are going to be required.

Leveraging Mr. Muir's perspective, Noel tried to gain an understanding on current issues such as Juukan, its significance and how Standard Operating Procedures can get it so wrong in a system as robust as Rio Tinto's strict rules.

Mr. Muir's passion has always driven his aspiration and actions, and there is much insight to be gained from hearing about the development of his Sandalwood business and how he is making it sustainable socially and environmentally.

Mr. Muir talks about:

00:00 - Introduction

20:27 - The ESG Issue

30:00 - The Social Issue in ESG

33:03 - Commercial Needs vs. Social Compliance

40:03 - Why ESG is good for the Mineral Industry

42:28 - Discussion is Good

43:35 - Misunderstanding of First Nation Compliance

45:48 - Conclusion

PODCAST

About Kado Muir

Ngalia Cultural leader and Chairman of the National Native Title Council

Mr Kado Muir is a Wati, a Goldfields Aboriginal cultural and community leader and an anthropologist/archaeologist with many years’ experience working in Aboriginal heritage, language preservation and maintenance, traditional ecological/education and native title research. From an early age, Kado grew up living in the bush and his passion is to “look after country, community and culture¨.

Kado is a community based cultural heritage and environmental activist. He has led campaigns against uranium mining in Western Australia and is part of that national network. He has been pushing for the mining industry to adopt responsible practices in Aboriginal heritage and to stop destroying Aboriginal sites and sacred places. Kado is a cultural leader who has preserved his Ngalia language and helped develop Australian curriculum content incorporating Aboriginal knowledge into education curriculum.

Kado operates a number of businesses including an Aboriginal art business, a sandalwood company, a culture-focussed podcast and an Aboriginal heritage consultancy business. He is an advocate promoting alternative community-based enterprises.

Contact Samso

Samso helps executives tell their stories to pique investor interest.

t/ +61 490 092 814

e/ noel.ong@samso.com.au

w/ https://www.samso.com.au

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