As we move into May, we’re holding space for both reflection and connection
May 5, Red Dress Day,is the National Day of Awareness and Remembrance for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit People (MMIWG2S). The red dress, first brought forward by Métis artist Jaime Black as “an aesthetic response to this critical national issue” has become a powerful symbol of the lives stolen and the voices unheard. This ongoing crisis is not separate from our history and continues to impact Indigenous Peoples across this country. The effects are felt not only in loss, but in the health, safety, and wellbeing in our communities.
On this day, and every day, we honour the lives and legacies of those who are no longer with us, and we stand with the families and communities who continue to call for justice.
At Aksis, this awareness lives alongside the work we do, how we show up for one another and ultimately, how we move forward together.
In that same spirit, we’re also looking ahead to gathering together for our Member Showcase, Annual General Meeting, and Spring BBQ Mixer. We will gather together for a full day dedicated to the people who make this community what it is.
We’re grateful you’re here.
Indigenous Business Resource Centre Update: A new way to connect to BDC
The Indigenous Business Resource Centre is supported by PrairiesCan, the Government of Canada.
Starting this spring, Aksis members will have access to a new learning opportunity in collaboration with this spring, Aksis members have a new way to connect to the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC).
Through this partnership, Aksis will offer an exclusive Fundamentals of Business cohort for members. The program includes 10 core business fundamentals courses, taken in sequential order, designed to support entrepreneurs as they build confidence, strengthen their business knowledge, and develop practical skills for their current or future business ideas.
Most of the learning will take place virtually, making it flexible and accessible for busy entrepreneurs and professionals. Along the way, there will also be opportunities for in-person knowledge sharing, and discussion with other Aksis members moving through the program together.
Participants who complete all 10 courses will receive a certificate of completion.
This cohort is about more than business training. It is an opportunity for Indigenous entrepreneurs to learn alongside one another, ask questions, build relationships, and grow within a community that understands their goals and experiences.
Aksis members interested in joining the cohort can email info@aksisyeg.ca to learn more.
Upcoming Aksis Events
Women’s Leadership Circle: May 7, 2026, 10:00-12:00PM
Join us for our upcoming Women’s Leadership Circle:a space for connection, shared learning, and community.
This month, the conversation will focus on how to improve decision-making skills for leadership and professional development, navigating choices in our work and daily lives with balance and intention.
All Indigenous and non-Indigenous Aksis members are welcome.
RSVP by May 4, 2026. Check your inbox for the registration link.
Questions? mec@aksisyeg.ca
AGM, Member Showcase & Spring BBQ Mixer: May 14, 2026
What are you doing on May 14? Come spend the day with us!
We’re hosting an Aksis-filled day of connection, community, and celebration starting with our Annual General Meeting (for members only), and opening up into our Member Showcase and Spring BBQ Mixer which is open to everyone.
The Showcase is a chance to meet Indigenous businesses and professionals in our network, and the BBQ Mixer brings it all together with good food, games, and time to connect.
Whether you’re already part of Aksis or just curious, we’d love to see you there.
RSVP here: https://luma.com/sourkko0
Aksis Indian Summer Golf Tournament: September 4, 2026
We’re excited to share that TELUS is returning as our Title Sponsor for our annual Aksis Golf Tournament this September.
As one of our valued associate members, TELUS continues to show what meaningful partnership can look like by building relationships with Indigenous businesses and communities in ways that create real connection and opportunity.
We’re also grateful to the sponsors and players who have already signed on. Your support is what makes this event possible year after year.
For those considering getting involved, there’s still an opportunity to be part! Sponsorship is a meaningful way to connect with the Aksis community, support Indigenous businesses, and be part of a day grounded in relationship-building and shared experience.
Spots are filling quickly- join us!
September 4, 2026 @ 7:30 AM
Cougar Creek Golf Course
Register or learn more here
Member Spotlight: Nichole Thomson, Edmonton International Airport
Nichole Thomson is the Manager of Social Impact and Indigenous Partnerships at Edmonton International Airport, where she helps shape projects so inclusion and sustainability are built in from the start.
Nichole’s path to this work began in procurement, where she first saw how purchasing decisions could either advance or ignore economic reconciliation. That early insight shaped everything that followed. In her current role, she splits her days between internal meetings, where she works to embed social sustainability across departments, and external collaboration with communities and businesses looking for opportunities to align. Right now, much of her focus goes toward EIA’s PAIR certification and the early stages of building a Reconciliation Action Plan.
Nichole is a reconnecting woman of Cree and settler descent, and that identity informs how she shows up at work. She approaches her role with humility, listening first and building relationships before assuming anything.
The teaching of wâhkôhtowin grounds her day to day: the understanding that we are all connected to each other, to the animals, and to the land, and that our actions ripple outward whether we intend them to or not. On the hardest days, she comes back to the idea of being “good medicine,” a phrase she first heard at a conference that has stayed with her since.
She joined Aksis in 2025 and was struck by how genuinely relational the connections felt, far beyond the surface-level, transactional exchanges typical of professional networking. She hopes this sense of community continues to grow, so the next generation of Indigenous professionals won’t have to fight as hard for a seat at the table, but instead find those spaces intentionally built with inclusion from the very beginning.
The Heart of Aksis: Meet the People Who Keep Aksis Moving
If you’ve ever joined Aksis, or felt instantly welcomed at an event, chances are, you’ve already experienced Sherrise Cardinal-Ahmet’s work.
As our Membership & Events Coordinator, Sherrise is often the first connection point for new members and the one making sure everything runs smoothly behind the scenes. From onboarding to event implementation, she’s the one turning ideas into real, meaningful experiences.
Sherrise is a true doer and someone who loves bringing people together by creating spaces that feel welcoming and easy to step into.
Born and raised in Edmonton, with Métis roots in Saskatchewan, Sherrise brings a strong sense of community into everything she does. Outside of Aksis, she’s a proud wife and mom of two, balancing family, community, and work with care and intention.
Anything Membership & Events related reach out to Sherrise at mec@aksisyeg.ca
Stay Connected
Stay connected and keep up with our latest updates, events, and initiatives.
🌐Website: www.aksisyeg.ca
📘Facebook: Aksis Edmonton
📸Instagram: @aksisyeg
🔗LinkedIn: Aksis Edmonton
Community Events
May 5 & 6, 2026 – Indigenous Trailblazer Summit 2026 | 8:00AM – 8:30PM | Edmonton Convention Centre, 9797 Jasper Ave
May 8, 2026 – Honouring and Remembering: Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women | 9:00AM-3:00PM | Bissell Centre 10527 96 Street
May 9, 2026 – Ben Calf Robe Annual Traditional Pow Wow | 1:00PM – 9:00PM | Commonwealth Stadium
May 14, 2026 – Elder-in-Residence – Visit Kokum Lorette Goulet | 1:00 – 3:00PM | Edmonton Public Library 7 Sir Winston Churchill Square Centennial Plaza
May 28 & 29, 2026 – Indigenous Awareness Cultural Teaching – 9:00AM – 4:00PM | 10010 105 Street Room 204