(Reuters: Rio Tinto, NYSE:), announced on Monday that it reached a deal with an Indigenous group regarding a heritage protection project for a project located in West Australia. It is trying to avoid a repetition of its destruction of the Juukan Gorge sacred rock shelters.

According to the company, an agreement was reached with the Yinhawangka Aboriginal Corporation, (YAC) which will allow for a co-designed management program that protects cultural and social heritage values.

Rio claimed that Rio and the Yinhawangka people would work together to ensure that the mines have a low impact on the cultural and historical heritage. It said that decisions on environmental issues and planning for mines will be taken jointly by the Yinhawangka.

Following Rio’s devastation of the Juukan Gorge, a 46,000-year old rock shelter in Western Australia that was used for an iron mine, investors and the public were outraged. The uproar caused the resignation of several top executives, including Jean-Sebastien Jacques (previous Chief Executive Officer) and Simon Thompson (President).

We know that we didn’t get this right every time. Simon Trott (Rio Tinto Chief Executive) said that we have all learned and are continuing to learn from the co-designed process. This is how we hope to continue working with Traditional Owners.”