Saskatchewan's First Nations community is tapping into the province's oil sands market, with help from Taiwan.

Chiefs from the Beardy's, Okemasis, Flying Dust, Witchekan and Cowessess First Nations visited Taiwan last week to find oil sands investors.

They were successful, and ended up signing memorandums of understanding with the Taiwan Sugar Corporation, the Chinese Petroleum Corporation, and the Thao Tribe.

The Taiwan Sugar Corporation is interested in Saskatchewan land for hog production, and the Thao Tribe feels it can learn how to better run casinos from the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority.

Project Facilitator Kent Thomas says it wasn't hard to convince the Chinese Petroleum Company to invest in Saskatchewan oil sands exploration.

"We told them, well you know, the oil sands don't stop at the Alberta/Saskatchewan border. Obviously they seep over into Saskatchewan, so maybe come to Saskatchewan, and get in on the ground floor," Thomas said.

The CPC will invest $800,000,000 initially for oil sands exploration in the northwest.

Thomas says the partnership has the full support of the provincial government, and Premier Brad Wall.