Building Better Relationships
BNSF Railway’s first-in-the-industry Tribal Relations program seeks to build and strengthen ties with the many diverse tribal nations on our network. We aim to foster a greater cultural understanding of these tribal nations, their rights and governance, cultural resources, and other crucial issues within BNSF. The sustained communication and dialogue between the Tribes, First Nations, Pueblos, and BNSF will allow each to more fully understand one another’s cultures and lead to an improved ability to convey interests and goals more clearly. It is through this communication and dialogue that durable relationships can be grown and fostered that will endure during prosperous and challenging times.
Since its origins 170 years ago, BNSF and its predecessor railroads built ties with tribes, First Nations and pueblos over many decades. These relationships were often situational, focused on problem-solving, local, and based on individual friendships.
Today we pursue a program of tribal out reach to build relationships based on friendship, but evolving into formal, institutionalized and comprehensive partnerships that are rooted in shared interests and understanding.
Tribal governments have evolved from the establishment of the early treaties to sophisticated governments. Now, these governments serve tribal economies that are often driven by their investment and management of business entities in gaming, tourism destinations, entertainment facilities, agriculture and the management and development of other natural resources.
We haul many of the products produced in Indian country, enabling tribes to access customers across a region, or around the globe.
The Tribal Relations team at BNSF initiates active dialogues and long-term working relationships with tribal nations where our track and facilities are located. The goal of the team is to build better relationships through careful coordination with multiple BNSF departments and through face-to-face meetings with tribal leaders at their tribal headquarters, and at BNSF Headquarters in Fort Worth, Texas.
We understand that each tribe is unique and has an established decision-making process within each tribal governance structure. Understanding this can help in identifying the appropriate “point of contact” between a tribal community and BNSF staff and leadership.
Communication protocols help define which communications need to be directed to tribal leaders or tribal department heads for review and response.
Internally, the Tribal Relations team supports other departments by addressing cultural or governance questions or issues through guidance and training of field staff. For example, the team provides procedures and training tools for properly addressing inadvertent discovery of cultural resources.
We train thousands of employees through its safety initiatives each year and offers Crude-by-Rail and Emergency Response Training to local first responders across our network.
The program takes place over three days and covers basic knowledge, skills for responding to crude-by-rail incidents, with more than 60 percent of training spent on field exercises.
We lead the industry in having the newest and cleanest-burning locomotive fleet. Over the last 10 years 40 percent of our fleet has been replaced to more energy-efficient locomotives.
Rail is already the most fuel and resource efficient means for moving large volumes of freight on land, and according to the Environmental Protection Agency, of all the greenhouse emissions from transportation, freight rail accounts for only 2.3 percent.
The BNSF Railway Foundation has been BNSF’s main vehicle for charitable giving since the Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railroads merged to form BNSF Railway Company.
The BNSF Railway Foundation has supported and helped improve the quality of life for residents in thousands of communities across the 28 states through which BNSF operates, and where BNSF employees live, work and volunteer.
BNSF's scholarship program with the American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) is designed to support Native American students preparing for careers in science, technology, engineering and math. Bright minds versed in STEM disciplines help the railroad operate safely and efficiently.
Native American high school seniors residing in Arizona, California, Colorado, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas and Washington may apply. Year after year, BNSF AISES scholars pursue limitless possibilities for a future in science and technology fields.
Please see State Government, Community and Tribal Contacts