Traditional owners whose cultural heritage was destroyed by a copper mine have accepted an apology from senior management after meeting on country in the Pilbara,
But they say it will take more than words to rebuild trust.
Sandfire admitted in a statement last month to the Australian Stock Exchange it had destroyed Yugunga-Nya artefacts on a number of occasions, dating back to 2017 at its Monty project, about 150km north-east of Meekatharra.
The company did not notify traditional owners or the Western Australian government.
“We are not getting married, engaged, or even dating Sandfire," Yugunga-Nya elder Andrew Gentle Snr said.
"We still distrust Sandfire because they destroyed our heritage and didn’t bother to tell us."
But Mr Gentle says the Yugunga-Nya people are willing to rebuild trust with the company.
"Sandfire need to show they are sincere because since 2016 they have showed nothing but disrespect for Yugunga-Nya people and Aboriginal culture," he said.
"I hope the recent steps the current leadership have taken show they are prepared to work hard to rebuild the relationship.”
Sandfire and the Yugunga-Nya made a joint announcement on Friday to the ASX about the signing of an agreement designed to map issues, steps and relationships that will lead to the protection of cultural heritage at Sandfire’s DeGrussa operation.
Traditional owners asked the company in 2016 to be involved in the management and protection of their cultural heritage sites and material in the mining lease.
Sandfire conceded if it had wished to disturb artefacts within the Monty mining lease it should have consulted the Yugunga-Nya.
Then, if it still decided to proceed, Sandfire should have considered lodging a Section 18 application, under the WA Aboriginal Heritage Act.
Sandfire chief executive Brendan Harris said the company was "deeply sorry".
“We wish to extend our sincere gratitude to the Yugunga-Nya for the time they spent with us on country, the stories they shared and the opportunity they have provided for us to work together to ensure we protect their cultural heritage as we undertake our closure and rehabilitation activities at DeGrussa," he said.
"While we cannot undo what has been done, we can make sure we do the right thing as we seek to rebuild trust and earn the respect of the Yugunga-Nya.”
The WA Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage is investigating.
Sandfire has hired lawyers to investigate the failures that led to the disturbance of the artefacts and the time taken to notify the Yugunga-Nya.
Franklin Gaffney, legal representative for the Yugunga-Nya people, told AAP destruction of the artefacts had caused significant harm.
Sandfire signed an Indigenous Land Use Agreement with the Yugunga-Nya people in 2012.
"Sandfire didn't bother implementing the conditions that were in the agreement and, as a result of that, these artefact scatters were destroyed which has significantly hurt the Yugunga-Nya elders and the people who live in and around Meekatharra," he said.
Mr Gaffney said the actions occurred under previous Sandfire management and the Yugunga-Nya people hoped the change of personnel meant a different attitude.
The Sandfire board and senior management's willingness to accept Yugunga-Nya elders' invitation to meet on-country and hear about the harm the company had caused was a good start to healing, he said.
