Banner that reads Reconciliation Action Pillars

Pillar 1: People, employment and education



Enbridge is committed to creating and nurturing organizational structures that support opportunities to attract, retain and develop the skills of Indigenous people at all levels and in positions that make Enbridge the place to build their careers in a culturally supportive work environment.

Painting of puffins


Our commitments


Focus Commitment Details Goal Timeline
Talent attraction and recruiting Establish flexible work placements and opportunities for Indigenous people that account for regional and cultural considerations across Canada and the U.S.
  • The Indigenous Employment Plan is led by an internal multidisciplinary team focused on improving the cultural consideration, working experience and hiring outcomes for Indigenous peoples.
  • Continue to identify and resolve employment barriers for current and future Indigenous employees.
  • Implement the Indigenous Employment Plan to account for Indigenous culture, regional/remote considerations and legal considerations, as appropriate.
  • Continue education for U.S. and Canadian employees about expanded cultural flexibility within designated leave programs and reinforce that this exists with U.S. employees.
  • Host a minimum of four listening sessions with Indigenous employees across Canada and the U.S. to understand top priorities and potential barriers to inclusion in the workplace.
  • Refresh Indigenous Employment Plan based on feedback received within listening sessions.

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2025-ongoing

Continue to seek and strive to increase Indigenous representation in Enbridge’s permanent workforce.
  • Work with existing and new Indigenous partners to identify current opportunities and key growth areas for employment and skills development.
  • Grow talent pool and implement Indigenous recruitment strategies.
  • Recent large acquisitions have contributed to a growing U.S. employee base.
  • Continue to engage with vendors, post-secondary institutions, employment centers and urban Indigenous recruitment partners to promote Indigenous recruitment.
  • Attend at least 12 Indigenous-focused career fairs throughout Canada and the U.S. annually.
  • Continue to strive for a workforce more reflective of the communities in which we operate.

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2025 - ongoing (Canada)

2027 (U.S.)

Continue to review internal hiring processes and develop human resource capability to ensure all perspectives are reflected through attraction/retention lifecycle.
  • Formalize Indigenous attraction and retention programs, focusing on cultural awareness, job advertising, partnerships and other regionally relevant cultural considerations.
  • Ensure that Indigenous cultural perspectives and priorities are reflected throughout talent acquisition process(es).
  • Conduct regular training with Talent Acquisition team on ways to conduct culturally inclusive interviews.
  • Ensure job postings contain inclusive language and seek opportunities to consider culturally relevant transferable skills, such as experience in local Indigenous government, alongside other qualifications.
  • Review and, where appropriate, update internal hiring processes.
  • Conduct ongoing and regular training with Talent Acquisition team related to hiring practices.
  • Evolve current Indigenous attraction/retention approach as needed to ensure they continue to meet the needs of candidates and internal partners.
  • Continue to adjust job descriptions and job postings, by leveraging content review tools and engaging with internal Indigenous expertise.

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2025-ongoing

Talent experience and development Promote participation among Indigenous employees within Enbridge’s development program offerings to support the retention and advancement of Indigenous employees.
  • Offer development sessions to support career growth within Enbridge.
  • Develop and diversify pools of candidates for apprenticeship and internship programs.
  • Partner with the Indigenous Employee Resource Group to host career development sessions, including topics such as accessing effective mentorship, coaching and sponsorship relationships.

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2025-ongoing

Cultural support programs Continue to develop and maintain cultural support programs to make Enbridge an attractive and welcoming employer for all people, including Indigenous peoples.
  • Include and develop Indigenous Employee Resource Groups across the company.
  • Host programs related to Sharing Circles and Indigenous employee support across the company.
  • Create culturally inclusive and safe spaces across the company that are supportive and celebrate Indigenous arts and culture.
  • Provide opportunities for all employees to attend learning events celebrating the rich diversity within Indigenous heritage and culture.
  • Support and provide access to Elders for consultation, cultural events and for support via the Employee Family Assistance Program.
  • Continue to implement and provide cultural support programs.
  • Integrate Indigenous arts and culture in Enbridge offices and facilities across Canada and the U.S.
  • Continue to support the Indigenous Employee Resource Groups and ensure employees from all regions and field locations can join.

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2025-ongoing

Provide specialized and unique cultural awareness opportunities to Enbridge’s Board of Directors and Executive Leadership Team that expand upon the learning from previous cultural awareness training.
  • Conduct Indigenous-designed, -led, and -facilitated cultural sessions for the Board of Directors and Executive Leadership Team to create enhanced understanding and awareness of the needs, priorities and interests of Indigenous Communities and Nations.
  • Host an annual Indigenous cultural session for Board of Directors and Executive Leadership Team.

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Ongoing

Star New commitment
Right arrow Refreshed commitment

2022 - 2024 progress and outcomes


  • Creation of Indigenous Employment Plan
  • Creation of designated cultural leave program
  • Attended a minimum of eight Indigenous-focused career fairs
  • Reached 2.8% proportional Indigenous representation by the end of 2024 across the enterprise
  • Implemented weekly training for Talent Acquisition
  • Expanded Leadership Development Program

Achieved:

  • Elder support available through the Employee Family Assistance Program
  • Indigenous art present in seven Enbridge offices across Turtle Island
  • Indigenous land acknowledgment plaques placed in 20 offices
  • Ensured our employees participated in cultural awareness training
    • Every new Enbridge employee now receives cultural awareness training as onboarding requirement.
    • Developed and implemented a cultural awareness program for all contractors.

See our actions to date:


Spotlight:
Maawanji’we Leadership Program

An emotional and powerful day of Indigenous cultural awareness education provides leaders an opportunity for learning, reflection and deep understanding of the importance of the continued journey towards reconciliation.



Through Enbridge’s journey toward reconciliation, it has been imperative for our employees and our leaders to listen and learn about Indigenous culture, history and teachings. 

On various occasions through 2024, cohorts from across Enbridge’s Gas Distribution Systems (GDS) and Liquids Pipelines leadership teams in the Great Lakes area in both Canada and the U.S. gathered to undertake an immersive day of Indigenous cultural awareness and knowledge sharing, which included a humbling and transformative visit to the Shingwauk Kinomaage Gamig in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada.

Coordinated and arranged by Kaella-Marie Earle, an Anishinaabekwe (Ojibwe, Odawa, and Potawatomi) from Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory and Aroland First Nation and a member of Enbridge’s GDS team, these learning visits have been a powerful reminder of the history of Indigenous people in Canada and the importance of continuing the journey towards reconciliation and working together to achieve our shared goals.

Founded in 1979, a “Kinoomaage Gamig” (Teaching Wigwam) was originally envisaged by Ojibway Chief Shingwaukonse, also known as Shingwauk, as a way of enabling and synthesizing cross-cultural understanding of traditional Anishnabek and modern European knowledge and learning systems.

Today, the Shingwauk Kinomaage Gamig, an Anishinaabe post-secondary institute that preserves the integrity of Anishinaabe knowledge and understanding, is set across the street from the former Shingwauk Indian Residential School on what is now Algoma University’s Sault Ste. Marie campus.

The day commenced with prayer and song, a smudge with a knowledge holder on the beautiful Shingwauk campus and an opening sharing circle.

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Shingwauk teaching wigwam Kinomaage gamig and medicine garden at Shingwauk Kinomaage Gamig, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada, spring 2024.

Throughout the morning, participants were educated on the Seven Grandfather Teachings and traditional language; learned the history of the Anishinaabe and their deep connection to the land; visited a sacred medicine garden filled with the four sacred medicines (sweetgrass, sage, cedar and tobacco); enjoyed traditional Anishinaabe cuisine; and explored the National Chiefs Library and Archive, a center focused on the preservation of Anishinaabe knowledge.

Throughout the afternoon, the team spent time visiting the former residential school and cemetery, and members were captivated by the deeply personal and moving stories from a residential school survivor.

“The opportunity to engage in an immersive and enriching experience such as that provided by the Shingwauk Kinomaage Gamig is one that gives a broader understanding and appreciation of the history of Indigenous peoples in North America and the importance of this journey towards reconciliation,” said Mike Moeller, Director of Enbridge’s Great Lakes Region.

“An emotional and powerful day of learning and reflection, the lessons and stories are ones we take to heart and lean on in our decision-making in both our professional and personal lives.”

While the opportunity to visit the Shingwauk Kinomaage Gamig had a profound impact on those who attended, teams are also focused on incorporating and weaving cultural awareness education and opportunities into everyday routines.

The Great Lakes leadership team encourages participation in quarterly wisdom and knowledge circles and cultural sharing opportunities, ongoing engagement and dialogue with local Indigenous groups, and a “Respect Practice” guided by local Elders before commencing certain activities on Mother Earth.

As our journey towards reconciliation continues, it is guided, informed and furthered when our people, collectively and individually, pause to listen, learn and reflect. We are grateful to the Elders and knowledge holders of the Shingwauk Kinomaage Gamig for their time, energy and courage in sharing their personal stories and their traditional knowledge.

Puffin