CN acknowledges historical colonial role; Indigenous council resigns

CN this week published a formal acknowledgment of the historical role railways played as instruments of colonial policies, as well as the intergenerational economic, cultural and social effects that these policies have had on Indigenous communities, according to a news release.

At the same time, CN accepted the resignation of the members of the Indigenous Advisory Council (IAC), an independent body that provided insight and advice to CN in its ongoing"reconciliation journey," CN officials said in a press release.

The resignations all 12 members of the IACl will take effect Dec. 31, the CBC reported.

CN was among the first major companies in Canada to establish an Indigenous advisory council, according to the Class I. The IAC was established in 2021 with representation from Canada’s First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities, the news release said.

"On behalf of the CN Board and our colleagues, we wish to thank all of the IAC members for their significant and meaningful contribution as we envisage a path forward for our company. Systemic changes require commitment and competency and Indigenous people with lived experiences provide an invaluable and essential perspective in leading that change. We are grateful for the IAC’s perspective," said Olivier Chouc, CN senior vice president responsible for Indigenous relations.

To further the work and recommendations of the IAC, CN has built a team of nine managers, including Indigenous and regional representation. The team will focus on developing and renewing respectful relationships with Indigenous communities across Canada and working on the development of CN's Reconciliation Action Plan, along with CN leadership, CN officials said.

IAC co-chairs Murray Sinclair, a former senator and head of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and Roberta Jamieson, the first female First Nations lawyer in Canada, said in a statement that they tried to foster understanding, connections and transparency in outlining steps for the railway's reconciliation efforts, the CBC reported.

But the 104-year-old company has "missed the mark" on reconciliation, they said, and that in order to have a better relationship with Indigenous Peoples, it must accept its past, take action and commit to change led by Indigenous business leaders, the statement said.