CN believes that increasing opportunities for employees to learn about and engage with Indigenous communities strengthens relationships.
Since 2014, CN provides awareness training on Indigenous culture, beliefs and history. In June 2019, this training became mandatory for all management employees working in Canada. This course is also part of CN’s unionized new hire program at the National Training Centre in Winnipeg, MB. The interactive training provides insight on CN’s Indigenous Vision and Strategy and how to support it; Indigenous culture and history; and ways to forge healthy, respectful and positive relationships with Indigenous peoples.
Since the program was launched, more than 24,000 employees, mainly in Canada, have completed the training. Currently, that represents 80% of active employees in Canada.
CN’s Indigenous Employee Resource Group (ERG) is a safe space for Indigenous and non-Indigenous employees to share, learn, and grow together around the unique recognitions, relationships, and histories of Indigenous peoples. The ERG reaches out to employees and Indigenous communities through virtual educational seminars and fundraising activities.
CN also holds events throughout the year. Examples in 2022 include:
- Indigenous Learning Program hosted by Rise Consulting to increase employee awareness of Indigenous rights and reconciliation.
- Focus group with Indigenous employees to better understand how CN’s Indigenous workforce experiences the Company.
To keep the momentum going, CN employees are invited to participate in local and nationally sponsored events such as:
National Indigenous Peoples Day
In 2022 on National Indigenous Peoples Day, CN’s Indigenous ERG invited employees to join an enriching learning experience. The ERG hosted both a virtual and live event with Running Thunder Drumming and Dancing at Walker Yard in Edmonton, AB. In addition, the ERG hosted “TED-Talk Circles”, a learning session on important Indigenous topics. The focus was on how to be a non-Indigenous ally and recognizing implicit bias against Indigenous peoples.
On June 20, 2023, the Indigenous ERG hosted a live-streamed event at CN headquarters in Montreal to celebrate local First Nation and Inuit culture through traditional expressions of song, dance, storytelling, and food. Special guests included a Mohawk Elder who offered a blessing for the event, a Mi’kmaw dancer and singer and Inuit throat singers and drummer. CN President and CEO, Tracy Robinson, addressed the audience and a healing poem written by S&C Maintainer Terry Ladue called “An Enormous Cost” was read by emcee Don Barnaby after a round dance, a slow-moving, circular dance that is part of a healing ceremony. The event ended with an honour song.
CN employees also took part in National Indigenous Peoples Day celebrations across the country in Surrey, BC, Calgary, AB, Edmonton, AB, Ottawa, ON, Chippewas of Rama First Nation near Orillia, ON, and at Montreal’s Botanical Garden.
To share in the rich culture of our Indigenous colleagues and neighbours, CN celebrated National Indigenous Peoples Day with a live-streamed event at our Montreal headquarters featuring ABMi’kmaw dancer, signer and emcee Don Barnaby (above).
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
On National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, CN employees acknowledge and humbly reflect on the experiences of Indigenous people. We pay tribute to the survivors of residential schools as we imagine the possibilities in the shared future we can create together.

Unveiled as part of CN’s commemoration of 2022 National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, and sponsored by CN’s Indigenous ERG, this beautiful mural created by Indigenous artist Annie Beach greets new CN employees and other visitors to the CN Campus in Winnipeg, MB.