Edmonton River Valley Askiy-Geo Discovery Tour
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
-keith-diakiw-cd-p-geo-fgc.png?sfvrsn=443b467c_2 "Lt(N) Keith Diakiw, CD, P.Geo., FGC")
Keith 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.