Mining giant Rio Tinto has signed a formal co-management agreement with the Puutu Kunti Kurrama and Pinikura (PKKP) Aboriginal Corporation, as it seeks to repair relations after the destruction of the Juukan Gorge rock shelters nearly five years ago.

The agreement sets out a new framework for how Rio Tinto will operate its iron-ore projects on PKKP country in Western Australia, placing cultural heritage protection and joint decision-making at the core of future mining activity.

Pinikura traditional owner and chairperson of the PKKP Aboriginal Corporation, Terry Drage, says the deal provides both sides with greater clarity and confidence.

“The effect of this agreement is that PKKP Traditional Owners will receive certainty that our important places on country will be protected from mining, while at the same time Rio Tinto will receive certainty around where they can develop much earlier in the mine cycle,”says Drage.

“Ultimately, this is good for us as Traditional Owners, and it is good for business.”

The co-management framework follows years of discussions and aims to ensure that knowledge-sharing and joint design processes are embedded across the entire mine lifecycle.

The signing of the agreement comes ahead of the fifth anniversary of the 2020 blasting of Juukan Gorge – an event that triggered global outrage, a Parliamentary inquiry, and the resignation of senior Rio Tinto executives.

Rio Tinto iron-ore CEO Simon Trott acknowledged the pain caused by the destruction. “The destruction of the Juukan Gorge rock shelters on the 24th of May 2020 brought immeasurable pain to the PKKP and profoundly changed our company,” Trott said.

“Our actions were wrong. We failed to uphold our company values, and our systems and processes were inadequate. Simply put, it should never have happened, and for that we will forever be sorry.”

Trott said the company’s renewed approach was shaped by “the open and gracious sharing of knowledge and experiences” from the PKKP, and that the agreement would support a long-term partnership built on trust.

The deal also covers ongoing rehabilitation work at Juukan Gorge, with a shared focus on preserving and restoring the cultural landscape.

The PKKP Aboriginal Corporation said the agreement delivers protections for significant heritage sites while allowing for greater transparency and collaboration in mine planning.

For Rio Tinto, it provides a pathway to develop projects with the consent and involvement of Traditional Owners.

The company is working to embed similar co-management models across other Traditional Owner groups in the Pilbara.