Promises made, promises kept: Enbridge is committed to Native American communities

July 2025

IRAP report card

In September 2022, Enbridge released its Indigenous Reconciliation Action Plan (IRAP), continuing our long-held commitment to strengthening relationships with Indigenous communities across North America and advancing reconciliation.

The plan laid out 22 commitments organized into six pillars:

• People, Employment and Education
• Community Engagement and Relationships
• Economic Inclusion and Partnerships
• Environmental Stewardship and Safety
• Sustainability, Reporting and Energy Transition
• Governance and Leadership

IRAP progress and outcomes, 2022-2024

• Creation of Indigenous Employment Plan
• 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 made available through the Employee Family Assistance Program
• Indigenous land acknowledgment plaques placed in 20 offices
• New Enbridge employees and contractors working in or around Indigenous communities now receive cultural awareness training as an onboarding requirement
• Four new commercial partnerships established since 2022:
  1. MHA Nation in North Dakota is set to become the first Tribal Shipper on our pipeline system with their purchase of the Plaza/Wabek Pipeline in North Dakota.
  2. Wabamun Carbon Hub (Alberta) is a dedicated, utility scale carbon dioxide transportation and storage solution—co-owned by five Indigenous communities.
  3. Seven Stars Energy: A 200-megawatt wind project was announced in 2024 in partnership with six First Nation and Métis communities.
  4. Athabasca Indigenous Investments Partnership and its Project Rocket were the largest energy-related Indigenous commercial partnership transaction in North America in 2023; communities acquired an 11.57% interest in seven Enbridge-operated pipelines in northern Alberta.
• Expanded Indigenous Business contacts through Indigenousbusiness@enbridge.com to include options for feedback from Indigenous Business to Supply Chain Management Indigenous Engagement
• In our 2022 IRAP, our aim was to spend an additional $714 million by 2030; since 2023, we have spent $514 million, and our total Indigenous spend to date is C$1.97 billion

New partnership agreement with 38 Indigenous Nations

On May 15, 2025, Enbridge announced a significant equity partnership agreement with 38 Indigenous Nations in British Columbia to purchase an ownership position in our Westcoast natural gas system.

The Nations have created the Stonlasec8 Indigenous Alliance Limited Partnership, which will invest approximately C$715 million for a non-operating interest in the system.

The Westcoast gas system has operated for more than 65 years. It stretches more than 1,800 miles (2,900 kilometers) from Fort Nelson in the northeast BC to the Canada-U.S. border in the southwest corner of the province and can transport up to 3.6 billion cubic feet of gas per day.

This agreement with Stonlasec8 means the 38 Nations will receive economic benefits which can provide essential investment in their communities and serves as an opportunity for Nations to play a greater role in building Canada’s energy future.

“Today is a significant milestone for Stonlasec8 First Nations and we are incredibly grateful to have the Government of Canada's leadership and support to bring this deal to fruition,” said Chief David Jimmie, President and Chair of Stonlasec8 and Chief of Squiala First Nation. “Enbridge’s Westcoast pipeline system is a legacy asset that has operated within our traditional territories for over 65 years. Now, our Nations will receive sustained economic benefits from this asset, funding critical investments in housing, infrastructure, environmental stewardship, and cultural preservation. People often ask what economic reconciliation for Indigenous Peoples looks like. This is it.”

Promises kept—in Minnesota

Enbridge committed to spend $100 million during Line 3 construction in Minnesota on business with Native American-owned companies and hiring and training Native American workers.

Enbridge actually spent five times that amount—more than $500 million specifically with Indigenous businesses, workers and communities. Indigenous-owned prime contractor Gordon Construction from Mahnomen, MN, on the White Earth Reservation lead the Line 3/Line 4 removal project on the Fond du Lac Reservation.

The five subcontractors on the project included one owned by a member of the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, three owned by members of the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa and one owned by a member of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe.

More opportunities in Wisconsin

In Wisconsin, a partnership between Enbridge and Five Skies Training and Consulting is providing free empowerment and job skills training to Native workers seeking meaningful careers. Enbridge has supported the training of more than 200 Indigenous people in the Midwest.

“Everyone who has graduated through our program has had an opportunity to go to work,” said Nick Kedrowski, co-owner of Five Skies Training and a member of the Oneida Nation in Wisconsin. “But they didn’t have to go to work on the pipeline—that was never a requirement from Enbridge. The training was available to basically anyone who was interested and willing to put in the time.”

Enbridge is looking ahead to rerouting a segment of Line 5 that will bring an economic boost to the region. Once approved, the Line 5 Wisconsin Segment Relocation Project (WSRP)—which will install approximately 41 miles of pipeline around the Bad River Reservation in northern Wisconsin—will create 700 construction jobs and pour tens of millions into Wisconsin’s economy.

Our commitment is reflected in our actions. The Wisconsin Line 5 Segment Relocation Project will invest millions in Native-owned businesses, provide wages for Tribal members, and include Native Americans in the Line 5 construction workforce.

Every landowner—about 300 in total—along the proposed route for Line 5 has agreed to the project, which is designed based on conversations with local communities and the results of a Tribal cultural resource survey. Enbridge is committed to safety and environmental and cultural resource protection. Tribal monitors will oversee construction with stop work authority to ensure important cultural resources are protected.

Enbridge and our contractors are ready to mobilize for construction as we anticipate final permit decisions by the end of the year. For Wisconsin and the Native communities, it brings a future of opportunities.

We’re open to conversations. Email questions to enbridgeinwi@enbridge.com or learn more about the Line 5 segment relocation on our website at enbridge.com/L5Wis.

Jennifer Smith
Director, U.S. Tribal Engagement