TY - JOUR
T1 - The Juukan Gorge destruction
T2 - a case study in stakeholder-driven and shared values approach to cultural heritage protection
AU - Oliveri, Vicki Antonia
AU - Porter, Glenn
AU - Davies, Chris
AU - James, Pamela
PY - 2024
Y1 - 2024
N2 - Purpose: In 2020, mining activity by Rio Tinto destroyed rock caves in Western Australia's Juukan Gorge that are considered sacred sites by the First Nation Peoples of that area, the Puutu Kunti Kurrama and Pinikura (PKKP) Peoples. This paper examines the public response to the damage caused at this culturally sensitive site and identifies cultural heritage protection strategies that emerged in the aftermath of this catastrophic event.Design/methodology/approach: This research applies a qualitative case study method and analysis of open-sourced official policy documents, media reports and published institutional statements.Findings: The research identified specific cultural heritage protection strategies, including stakeholder-driven advocacy and shared values approach to business practices to help foster a greater appreciation of the connections between people, objects and lands. Whilst the mining activities were considered lawful, significant gaps in the legislation to protect heritage sites were also exposed.Originality/value: Using a recent case that occurred in 2020, this paper unpacks how the motivations for accessing minerals can override cultural sensibilities and legal/ethical frameworks established to protect cultural heritage. This paper brings to light the liabilities associated with the mining industry when operating in a culturally significant environment where appropriate due diligence to manage cultural heritage is not thoroughly applied. The paper highlights the role the community can play in demanding improved corporate social responsibility which can, in turn, act as a strategy for cultural heritage protection.
AB - Purpose: In 2020, mining activity by Rio Tinto destroyed rock caves in Western Australia's Juukan Gorge that are considered sacred sites by the First Nation Peoples of that area, the Puutu Kunti Kurrama and Pinikura (PKKP) Peoples. This paper examines the public response to the damage caused at this culturally sensitive site and identifies cultural heritage protection strategies that emerged in the aftermath of this catastrophic event.Design/methodology/approach: This research applies a qualitative case study method and analysis of open-sourced official policy documents, media reports and published institutional statements.Findings: The research identified specific cultural heritage protection strategies, including stakeholder-driven advocacy and shared values approach to business practices to help foster a greater appreciation of the connections between people, objects and lands. Whilst the mining activities were considered lawful, significant gaps in the legislation to protect heritage sites were also exposed.Originality/value: Using a recent case that occurred in 2020, this paper unpacks how the motivations for accessing minerals can override cultural sensibilities and legal/ethical frameworks established to protect cultural heritage. This paper brings to light the liabilities associated with the mining industry when operating in a culturally significant environment where appropriate due diligence to manage cultural heritage is not thoroughly applied. The paper highlights the role the community can play in demanding improved corporate social responsibility which can, in turn, act as a strategy for cultural heritage protection.
KW - Community advocacy
KW - Corporate ethics
KW - Corporate social responsibility
KW - Cultural heritage
KW - Cultural heritage management
KW - Cultural heritage protection
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85134214215&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - https://ezproxy.uws.edu.au/login?url=https://doi.org/10.1108/JCHMSD-12-2021-0208
U2 - 10.1108/JCHMSD-12-2021-0208
DO - 10.1108/JCHMSD-12-2021-0208
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85134214215
SN - 2044-1266
VL - 14
SP - 919
EP - 933
JO - Journal of Cultural Heritage Management and Sustainable Development
JF - Journal of Cultural Heritage Management and Sustainable Development
IS - 6
ER -