Aboriginal employees noted diamond mining project report.

"We've established Aboriginal employees as the highest hiring priority and we are seeing results," said a De Beers Canada official. The diamond-mining cartel released its Snap Lake Socio-Economic Report for 2005, as required by its agreement with the Government of the Northwest Territories.

According to the report De Beers and its contractors found 41% of their employees among NWT residents, just exceeding the target of 40%, as set out in the agreement. Aboriginal employees made up 17% of the total workforce in 2005, and filled 13% of the management, professional and skilled jobs.

They hired 333 workers during May to December of 2005 and 25% of new hires were of Aboriginal descent.

De Beers and its contractors provided 41 positions to women. In total, 18% of the Snap Lake workforce were women and over 75% of the women employed were in management, professional or skilled occupations.

More than 35% of construction expenditures in 2005 were made in NWT, including Aboriginal businesses.

In 2005, over $350,000 was spent in the NWT by De Beers "on social investment opportunities that improved quality of community life," contributed to capacity building and that developed skills* Over 59% of that expenditure was on skills development, 21% on literacy and education, 16% on community initiatives and 4% on industry related initiatives.

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