BHP Billiton says it wants to engage, encourage and employ as many aboriginal people as it can at its Jansen Lake Potash project.

The company’s asset president, Alex Archila made the commitment during an address to the Canadian council for Aboriginal Business at the First Nations University.

Archila says the bottom line  is making a profit, but it is not the only consideration.

“If you look at a business opportunity just to make money it won’t be sustainable, you have to be part of the community and look at addressing their needs.”

The Jansen mine site is undergoing a $2.6 billion expansion.  It is expected to begin producing potash in 2018,  and operate for a hundred years.

Amoung those in the audience was Edmund Bellegarde,  the chairperson for the File Hills-Qu’Appelle  tribal council.    He was impressed with what he heard.

“It was encouraging to see a global business leader come and express his respect for our customs, our traditions, our spirituality

BHP Billiton has already signed opportunity agreements for the Jansen mine project with the Kawacatoose, Day Star,  and Muskowekwan first nations.

The mine site is about 140 kilometers east of Saskatoon.

Right now it employs about 500 people,  including 150 aboriginal workers.

During the two-year construction phase it will employ about 2,500 people.