In this powerful episode of Deep Dives with DPI, we sit down with Mark Podlasly, Chief Sustainability Officer at the First Nations Major Projects Coalition and DPI Board Director. Drawing from his experience growing up near Canada's largest open pit copper mine on Nlaka'pamux Nation territory, Mark offers unique insights into mining's relationship with Indigenous communities and its critical role in the energy transition.

Tune in to understand more about:

- The evolving dynamics between mining companies and Indigenous communities, driven by increased investor scrutiny and climate change imperatives
- The importance of creating lasting benefits for communities that host mining operations "forever"
- The critical need to incorporate Indigenous knowledge and participation from project inception through closure

Throughout the conversation, Mark emphasizes that Indigenous peoples understand the urgency of climate change and the critical minerals needed to address it, but stresses that proper engagement and partnership are essential for project success. He shares how his community's relationship with mining has evolved over 50 years, from exclusion to meaningful participation in expansion planning, water management, and reclamation decisions.