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Ethnocultural Grant Program: Speaker Series

APEGA is proud to present this free speaker series, funded by the Government of Alberta’s Ministry of Immigration and Multiculturalism through the Ethnocultural Grant Program. These sessions are intended to equip professional engineers and geoscientists with the tools to collaborate more effectively across cultures and ensure the professions remain resilient, future-ready, and aligned with the evolving needs of the communities they serve.

This series offers space for critical learning and reflection—empowering individuals and organizations to build stronger practices that benefit all Albertans and enable innovation to thrive.

This initiative also supports the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) of Canada’s Calls to Action by exploring the histories, cultures, Traditional Knowledge, and lived experiences of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples.

Funded by

Alberta Government Ethnocultural Grant

In alignment with

Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada's Call to Action

Upcoming Sessions

Edmonton River Valley Askiy-Geo Discovery Tour

26 Jun 2026
Register by June 25

Join Keith Diakiw to embark on a journey into Edmonton’s past as you visit some historic and sacred sites within North America’s largest urban parkland, the Edmonton River Valley. Walk in the footsteps of Indigenous Peoples who continue to visit this ancient gathering place on Turtle Island for over 11,000 years.

Come learn and honour local First Nations, Métis, and early-European ancestors along with the holistic history of amiskwacîwâskahikan (Beaver Hills House in nêhiyawêwin/Cree), which is the traditional territorial name for Edmonton.

This session is a walk from 1-4 p.m., leaving from in front of the John Walter Museum. Participants are asked to arrive by 12:45 pm wearing good walking shoes.

This opportunity is offered as part of APEGA’s Ethnocultural Grant Program speaker series with funding from the Province of Alberta.

About the presenter

Lt(N) Keith Diakiw, CD, P.Geo., FGCKeith Diakiw is a proud Métis, professional geoscientist, naval warfare officer, and indigipreneur who brings together culture, science, and storytelling through his work as the founder and GEO (geo experience officer) of Talking Rock Tours. It is the world’s first 100 per cent Indigenous-owned and operated geo-educational company. 

Based in amiskwacîwâskahikan (Edmonton), Talking Rock Tours offers immersive geo-experiences that explore Alberta’s natural wonders through an Indigenous cultural lens while promoting reconciliation through reconnecting to the land and fostering greater understanding and respect for local Indigenous Peoples and their ways of knowing.

Keith holds three degrees from the University of Lethbridge and the University of Alberta: a bachelor of science co-op in physical geography, a bachelor of arts in anthropology/archaeology, and a bachelor of science with specialization in geology. His unique career path is further complemented by his ongoing military service in the Royal Canadian Navy, where he became a qualified naval warfare officer in 2005, and continues to serve as a naval reservist at His Majesty’s Canadian Ship Nonsuch. 

Keith was also recently elected as the new military co-chair of the Defence Indigenous Advisory Group for Canadian Forces Edmonton.

  • Where:
    John Walter Museum
    9180 Walterdale Hill NW
    Edmonton, AB
    T6E 2V3
  • Speaker:
    Keith Diakiw
  • Cost:
    Free
  • Registration Deadline:
    June 25

You may also be interested in:

4 Seasons of Reconciliation Online Course

APEGA has worked with Reconciliation Education to offer our registrants education on the histories and cultures of Indigenous Peoples.

Questions about these events?

Contact [email protected] for more information

APEGA and its 10 branches are situated on Treaty 4, 6, 7, 8, and 10 territories and within the Métis Nation homeland, which have been and continue to be home to many Indigenous Peoples for millennia. We are honoured to show our respect to Indigenous Peoples, past, present, and future, who were and continue to be part of this place. We recognize the need for continued work towards righting relations to build strong and positive relationships as intended through the spirit and intent of treaty.

See all upcoming APEGA events