Corporate Social Responsibility –Partnerships with Indigenous

Peoples

Santiago, ChileSeptember 2005

Corporate Social Responsibility

Indigenous people are the existing descendants of the original people inhabiting a particular region or country.

Corporate Social Responsibility

Indigenous populations often maintain cultural, political and legal values that differ from those of the newer inhabitants, and, importantly, maintain particular claims or rights over the local lands, resources and artifacts, in accordance with these values.

Corporate Social Responsibility

Businesses working in such diverse areas as development and infrastructure projects, textile and food industries, extractive industries, tourism, pharmaceuticals, scientific research, the art industry and many other areas all potentially face Indigenous claims.

Corporate Social Responsibility

Some corporations are beginning to address the issues of corporate social responsibilities by developing policies and guidelines that engage Indigenous Peoples in a mutually productive and meaningful manner.

Corporate ResponsibilityCASE STUDY – Tembec and Black River

Tembec is a leading integrated Canadian forest products company principally involved in the production of wood products, market pulp and papers. With sales of over $4 billion dollars, the Company operates over 55 manufacturing units in Europe, North America and South America employing approximately 10,000 people.

Black River is an Indigenous Community of 800 people who are the original inhabitants of the land. Our traditional territories are located in the heart of Tembec’s forestry operations in Manitoba, Canada.

Corporate Social ResponsibilityTembec’s corporate philosophy focuses on:

Conducting business and developing relationships with respect, openness, trust, understanding and integrity – These are words to live and work by!

Incorporating Traditional Knowledge (TK) into Forest Management Planning

Identify and consider First Nation interests, concerns and values with respect to Aboriginal and Treaty Rights

Provide a mechanism for full or partial endorsement within the Forest Management Planning process

FSC Principles – Principle 3

Corporate Social Responsibility

Tembec has established policies and guidelines in all phases of the company’s operation which will provide stewardship, sustained yield and development of the natural resources while protecting the health and safety of employees, customers and the Indigenous communities.

Corporate Social Responsibility

Through its Indigenous Peoples policies, Tembecworks together with First Peoples in:

Economic Development - mills & forestry Educational Assistance Programs

scholarships and youth training forestry contractor development

Traditional Values Integration joint planning committees trapper consultation

Corporate Social Responsibility

The scope of Tembec’s Indigenous policy is to define the relationship with respect to First Nation communities impacted by the company’s activities.

Tembec ensures that Indigenous views and values are incorporated into company practices through the establishment of Traditional Area Committees.

Corporate Social Responsibility The Traditional Area Committee’s (TAC) provides liaison

between Indigenous communities and Tembec Industries. The TAC provides opportunities for Indigenous communities to address their concerns, views and values as they relate to such activities such as trapping, fishing, gathering, sustainable development and the social well-being of the community. Membership of the TAC is made up of both community and the company representatives. This group which meets on a regular basis works towards solving potential conflicts that can arise through industrial activities within traditional lands used by Indigenous Peoples.

Corporate Social Responsibility TEMBEC IS INVOLVED IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS:

Trapper Research Black River Education Opportunities Black River Saw Mill/Chipper Project Black River Pulp Cutting Black River Reforestation Program Black River Environment Department Hiring of Indigenous Peoples within Mill and Forestry

Operations

Corporate Social Responsibility Tembec has demonstrated

that long-term meaningful relationships with Indigenous Peoples is not only possible but also good business practice. Tembec’s corporate social responsibility policies has earned it a place among Canada’s 50 best corporate citizens…..