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TORONTO (miningweekly.com) – Engaging with the growing aboriginal talent pool is increasingly critical for those operating in Canada, Noront Resources VP for human resources Leanne Hall told members of the Canadian Institute of Mining’s Management and Economics Society on March 26.
“There are around 1 200 aboriginal communities in Canada currently located within 200 km of mineral properties. It’s estimated 60% of mining activity in Canada happens on aboriginal lands,” she said. “Aboriginal Canadians are the most accessible source of talent closest to our projects, so it makes sense to look to them for developing a workforce.”
Noront is developing its flagship Eagle’s Nest project in the Ring of Fire region, in northern Ontario, which it hopes to bring into commercial production in 2017. The project has just over 11.13-million tonnes proven and probable reserves grading 1.68% nickel, 0.87% copper, 0.89 g/t platinum and 3.09 g/t palladium.
Aboriginal people also represent one of the fastest-growing demographics in Canada. “Currently there are 652 000 aboriginal people in Canada of working age. By 2020, another 400 000 aboriginal youth will come on stream. So there will be a million aboriginal people available for work,” she said.
Concurrently, the Canadian mining sector faces a pending workforce shortage. “From a labour and talent management perspective, the mining sector will be over 145 000 people short, including 20 000 in Ontario alone,” she added.
Much progress had already been made and the mining industry’s workforce now comprises 7.5% aboriginal peoples, while many First Nations businesses are mainly geared towards providing goods or service to the sector.
Meanwhile, greater workplace diversity adds to productivity. “Diversity results in innovative and more knowledgeable work teams,” Hall said.
ADDING IT UP
The need to understand the history and culture of people living around the project is essential for successful aboriginal engagement. As is the need to understand many of the embedded difficulties First Nation communities often face, such as the lack of educational opportunities.
“When we started, it was really important that we didn’t talk about Noront; we just learned from the communities about themselves,” Hall said.
“Our project is surrounded by 15 First Nations communities [the Matawa]; the majority of these communities have [experienced] 90% unemployment or more,” she added. “Here is an available talent force that we would have to [help in developing] skills for employment and training.”
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