b'SUCCESS STORYThe Mary River mine, located on Baffin Island, produces the highest-grade direct shipping iron ore globally. Photo courtesy of Baffinland.Community CommitmentsUdlu Hansons leadership creates lasting impacts in NunavutBy Bryan HansenU dloriak (Udlu) Hanson, a proudcreating economic opportunities. Han- opportunities for generations to come. Inuk born and raised in Iqaluit,son expresses her passion for creatingIn the future, when our grandkids look Nunavut, is making significantpositive change in the community andback, theyll see how much we did in strides in her role as the Vice Presidentfostering opportunities for future gen- such a short time, she adds.of Community and Strategic Devel- erations. Ive been lucky to have beenHanson shares some insights into opment at Baffinland, a prominentworking with different partners aroundthe innovative practices at Baffinland Canadian mining company situatedthe same table in previous positions,and her transformative role within the on Baffin Island. With a Bachelor ofand it has given me a great perspectivecompany, underlining the companys Business Administration from Okana- all around, she says.gan University College and a Bachelorcommitment to local engagement.of Education from Brock University,Reflecting on her diverse roles beforeWe currently have community repre-Hanson has accumulated extensiveBaffinland, Hanson draws connectionssentatives, Inuit Knowledge Holders experience working in senior rolesbetween her current position and herand community relations guides in with the Government of Nunavut andpast experiences in economic develop- seven North Baffin communities: Arctic ment. She emphasizes the importanceBay, Clyde River, Igloolik, Kimmirut, various Inuit organizations in otherof creating economic opportunities forKinngait, Pond Inlet and Sanirajak,geographic places, but she is happy toInuit and people in Nunavut, echoingshe explains.be back home in Iqaluit, working withthe transformative changes witnessed Baffinland. Indigenous peoples arein a short time. Inuit went from beingHanson also highlights the uniqueness like salmon, but Inuit say we are morenomadic to living in settled communi- of Baffinlands operations, particu-like the arctic char. We always need toties in a very small time window, shelarly in the production of high-grade come home. There is a desire that pullssays. Weve had an incredible storyiron ore. Nunavut is poised to be the us back, she says. since then. Inuit have changed thelargest producer of direct shipping Hanson shares her journey sincemap of Canada with a new territory,high-grade iron ore in North America, joining Baffinland in June 2019, wherechanged public institutions and gov- Hanson asserts, adding that this will she had the opportunity to create herernment. I like to jokingly say we wenthelp significantly reduce globalrole as the head of the Community andfrom igloos to iPads.carbon emissions.Strategic Development department.Hanson feels that, in this generation,Hanson highlights the companys The department focuses on commu- its important to carry on this hard workinvolvement in the production of green nity engagement, implementing theand build upon the foundation theyvesteel. The high-grade ore, with over Inuit Impact Benefit Agreement withcreated for Inuit people. We need to fill67-per-cent purity, is a crucial compo-the Designated Inuit Organization andin the blanks and show up and createnent in the global shift towards low-car-12INDIGENOUS PROSPERITYIssue #1, 2024'