Celebrating International Indigenous Peoples Day across IAMGOLD: Doreen Luke, Core cutter and Geotechnician, Côté Gold Exploration

August 9 is International Indigenous Peoples Day and we would like to celebrate the Indigenous peoples we have the pleasure of working with across our sites. Today, we share the stories of two notable employees: Doreen Luke, from Côté Gold, in Canada; and Sergio Sabajo, from Rosebel, in Suriname. 

Doreen Luke, Core cutter and Geotechnician, Côté Gold Exploration

Doreen Luke is a member of Mattagami First Nation and lives in the community located 40 km north east of the Côté Gold Project site, in Northern Ontario, Canada.

Doreen started working at the site in 2010, before it was owned by IAMGOLD, and said she loved her job with the Côté Gold Exploration team.

“I like the surroundings and the people, working in a team, slinging the core and cutting.”

“I’ve built houses, I fought forest fires for 10 years but I’ve never worked in an office and I don’t own a computer – I like doing this stuff, and teaching others. I have two students here and I enjoy teaching them what the geologists taught me.”

Doreen noted that acknowledgement for the changes to the land as the site is developed were important to Indigenous people.

In 2019, a water blessing ceremony was held at Côté Lake, before mine construction required it to be dewatered and another lake built to replace it.

“The water blessing was important to us, for tradition and healing. Removing things impacts us, that’s why the restoration at the end of the mine life is important to us. I was here when there was no development, compared to what is happening here now, it is a big change. It’s sad but also creates jobs and opportunities for the community.”

“I am really interested in what is happening here at the Côté Gold Project site, I like having a look at the construction progress. I want to stay for as long as I can and I love meeting people, so I’d be happy to go anywhere within IAMGOLD.”

Doreen said she also liked finding opportunities within the Company for other Indigenous people.

“Al (Smith, Doreen’s manager) asks me for references when he is looking for new people, I like finding people and teaching them, sharing the knowledge of how mining works, and if they want to move up, this is a great starting point.”