From QIO, David Cataford, Chief Executive Officer, Angela Kourouklis, Senior Vice President, Human Resources, and Yves Brouillette, General Manager of the Bloom Lake mine, were pleased to welcome Chief Jonathan Shetush and elected representatives of the Innu Takuaikan Uashat mak Mani-Utenam (ITUM) Council at the mine site and in Fermont in the summer of 2025.

Since the restart of the Bloom Lake mine in 2018, Quebec Iron Ore (QIO) has distinguished itself through its approach to building partnerships based on trust and respect with First Nations.

The company has the privilege of operating on the Nitassinan, the ancestral territory of the Innu communities of Uashat mak Mani‑Utenam and Matimekush-Lac John. As such, QIO is committed to limiting the impacts of its activities while maximizing benefits for its host communities.

This approach, deeply rooted in QIO’s corporate culture, is also reflected in a strong desire to contribute to the recognition and promotion of Innu culture and to foster dialogue, exchange, and learning within its teams.

It is in this spirit, and in collaboration with partners from the community of Uashat mak Mani‑Utenam, that QIO launched Kapatakan in 2024. This two‑day immersive experience at the heart of Innu culture allows participants to visit historic, traditional and cultural sites, and to meet entrepreneurs, leaders, and community members. To date, 160 employees have had the opportunity to take part in this unique experience.