As a good neighbor, CN is fostering strong relationships with Aboriginal communities, focusing on strong personal interactions and favoring face-to-face meetings to create a trusted environment based on an understanding of mutual needs and expectations.

Our goal is to proactively engage with the various Aboriginal communities, increasing our community involvement and learning more about the communities near our network. One way of doing so is through our sponsorships and donations.

CN has established solid partnerships with Aboriginal communities and associations to inform them of possible career opportunities and to fulfill positions within CN with qualified candidates.

Since 2013, CN has offered internships to Aboriginal students for positions within Corporate Services. During their internship, they learn about CN, gain work experience, and, in return, interns share their experiences and teach CN about their culture through interactive presentations. In the future, CN hopes to extend these opportunities to other departments.

Working with various Aboriginal communities and institutions helps promote CN as an employer of choice.   

• AMIK Inc  – In partnership with this organization, which offers professional Indigenous engagement services,  CN participated in their 2018 Indigenous Tours program, as well as their National Indigenous Hiring Week.
• PGNAETA and BCIT  – In partnership with these organizations, CN participated in the rollout of a program which provided hands-on Rail experience for Indigenous peoples interested in becoming a railroader.

Percentage of Aboriginal employees hired at CN

*Based on self identification.

CN believes that the increasing opportunities for employees to learn and engage with Aboriginal communities strengthens relationships. With the help of Amik Inc., based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, CN developed a Cultural Awareness Training program for its employees. The first session was delivered in January 2015, before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Report was issued (July 2015). Since then, the presentation has been converted into an eLearning program to reach a greater number of CN employees. As of December 31, 2018, more than 2,600 employees had received the training, 70% of which were unionized employees. In 2019, this training program became mandatory for all Canadian employees.

To keep the momentum going, CN employees are invited to participate in local and nationally sponsored events such as:

• Powwows
• Assembly of First Nations' Annual General Assembly
• National Indigenous Peoples Day celebrations at CN and in designated areas outside of CN.
• Pulling Together Canoe Journey

CN's Aboriginal Affairs and Supply Management have put in place a strategy to identify procurement opportunities and to develop business relationships with Aboriginal communities and foster collaboration between these communities, clients and partners.

CN has developed an internal database, available to CN employees, providing information on communities along its operating network. CN is also proud to have contributed to the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (“CCAB”) database which contains a multitude of Aboriginal businesses offering varied services.

On May 10, 2018, CN was honoured by the CCAB for becoming an “Aboriginal Procurement Champion”. CN was celebrated as one of the first 18 major corporations in Canada to commit to increasing opportunities for Aboriginal businesses by enabling them to participate in its supply chain. As an Aboriginal Procurement Champion, CN will create new opportunities and help spread the word to engage other corporations.

In May 2019, Sean Finn, Executive Vice-President Corporate Services and Chief Legal Officer, was appointed co-chair of CCAB’s Aboriginal Procurement Champion initiative.

We encourage Aboriginal businesses who desire to be added to our preferred suppliers' list to get in touch with our Supply Management department.

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We are committed to increasing our stakeholder engagement with customers, investors, governments, and the public in general, to share CN's Aboriginal Vision and Strategy.

In order to help CN promote and increase stakeholder engagement, the following initiatives have been implemented:

• Have government agencies become aware of CN’s Aboriginal Vision and Strategy, identify issues of greatest concern and raise awareness of the impact of potential disruptions of CN’s operations.
• Familiarize CN’s Vision with its clients and stakeholders.
• Provide more information to the public relating to the activities, programs and opportunities available at CN.
• Provide a Cultural Awareness training program developed by CN in 2014, with the help of AMIK Inc. based in Winnipeg, MB. The training for CN employees has been converted into a  generic version which can be offered to CN’s stakeholders. 
• In 2017, a session was presented to a major CN customer.
• In  September 2018, a session was given to the Board of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce.