As summer continues, we hope you’ve had the opportunity to relax, recharge, and enjoy the season with family, friends, and community.
August is shaping up to be an exciting month at Aksis as we prepare for our Annual Golf Tournament. One of our favourite opportunities to bring members, partners, and supporters together for a day of networking and connection. Thank you to everyone who supported our recent posts and tagged your favorite Indigenous businesses across Alberta! Your input showed the incredible strength and diversity of our business community.
We’re excited to take the next step in our initiative with RunWithIt Synthetics. Join us for an upcoming half-day session focused on Indigenous data sovereignty, featured alongside a project show-and-tell to share what we’ve uncovered together. The focus group session will be held on September 28, 2026. Reach out to mec@aksisyeg.ca if you are interested in attending!
This month, we also recognize International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples on August 9, celebrating the cultures, contributions, and achievements of Indigenous Peoples around the world, and Treaty 6 Recognition Day on August 23, honouring the Treaty relationship and the shared responsibility to uphold its spirit and commitments. We hope you enjoy this month’s newsletter and look forward to connecting with you at upcoming Aksis events and initiatives.
Upcoming Events
Business gets done where relationships are built.
Each September, Indigenous entrepreneurs, professionals, and partners come together for the Aksis Golf Tournament. More than just a day on the course, it’s an opportunity to build new relationships, strengthen existing ones, and create connections that continue well beyond tournament day.
We’re excited to welcome many returning teams and sponsors, with a limited number of team registrations still available. If you’ve been thinking about joining us, now is a great time to secure your spot.
Whether you’re bringing clients, colleagues, friends, or family, it’s a great opportunity to connect with the Aksis community while enjoying a day on the course.
📅 September 4, 2026
⏰ 7:30 AM
📍 Cougar Creek Golf Course
Join us on the course. Bring your team. Build new relationships and be part of a community that’s creating opportunities together.
Register today: aksisyeg.ca/annual-golf-tournament/
TOPONA
TOPONA on the Road is all about bringing our members together while celebrating the incredible businesses in our network.
If you’re an Aksis member with a meeting space, office, or storefront, we’d love to explore hosting a future TOPONA session at your location.
Thank you to all of our amazing hosts who have welcomed us so far. We’re excited to continue taking TOPONA on the road!
Interested in hosting? Email us now! 📧 mec@aksisyeg.ca
TOPONA: The Original Peoples of North America Gathering
Aksis warmly invites Indigenous business owners and professionals to join us for Tea & Bannock – a casual gathering where we come together to build connections and strengthen community.
This gathering is a space to:
🔹Connect with fellow members
🔹Share insights and experiences
🔹Engage in knowledge sharing
🔹Increase visibility within the Indigenous business network
Date: August 19, 2026
Time: 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Location: Aksis Office, #300, 10055 – 106 Street
To register click the link: https://luma.com/kuatu7s8
Business Resource Centre Updates
Aksis Members Get Free Access to U OF A Roots & Relations Entrepreneurship Program
Interest is growing for the University of Alberta’s Roots & Relations entrepreneurship program, and we’re now building the Aksis cohort for this fall.
As a reminder, the program is free for Aksis members and their circles, including employees, family members and extended community. If you haven’t already, complete the Expression of Interest form to receive your invitation when registration opens.
Whether you’re starting a business, growing one or refining your next idea, this is a great opportunity to learn alongside other Indigenous entrepreneurs in a program grounded in Indigenous knowledge and practical business skills.
Complete your Expression of Interest today. Please ensure to add Aksis as the reference.
Learn more or stay connected: IEPP@ualberta.ca
The Indigenous Business Resource Centre is funded by PrairiesCan.
BDC & Aksis: Fundamentals of Business
We’re thrilled to see our first group of Aksis members taking part in the BDC Fundamentals of Business program. This self paced online program is designed to help entrepreneurs and business owners strengthen their knowledge in key areas of business, including business planning, financial management, marketing, operations, and long term growth.
Whether you’re just starting your business or looking to build on your existing skills, the program offers practical tools and resources that can be applied right away. Participants also have the opportunity to connect with fellow Aksis members to discuss what they’ve learned and share ideas along the way.
If you weren’t able to join this round, don’t worry. We’ll be welcoming another group in early fall. Keep an eye on your inbox and our social media channels for the next call for participants. We’d love to have you join us!
Questions? Email mec@aksisyeg.ca
Meet our Summer Student: Ava McTavish
Meet Our Summer Student, Ava! This summer, we were excited to welcome Ava to the Aksis team. A proud Métis woman and Bachelor of Commerce student at MacEwan University, Ava brought enthusiasm, curiosity, and a strong desire to learn. Throughout the summer, she supported a wide range of projects, from data mining and office inventory management to leadership resource updates and research on Indigenous post secondary initiatives. One of her favourite parts of working at Aksis was taking on new challenges and developing new skills, while seeing firsthand the impact of leadership within a women led organization. Outside of work, you’ll find Ava reading, staying active with pilates and sports, volunteering, travelling, or exploring the Bountiful Farmers’ Market. Looking ahead, she hopes to gain international business experience, continue giving back to her community, and pursue a master’s degree. As she wraps up her summer with Aksis, Ava shared that she’s grateful for the guidance, encouragement, and welcoming environment that made her experience so rewarding.
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
August 6, 2026 – Elder-in-Residence – Visit Kokum Lorette Goulet | 1:00PM – 3:00PM & 5:00 PM – 7:00PM| 7 Sir Winston Churchill Square
August 8 – 9, 2026 – Nikamowin Programming Edmonton Folk Fest | 11:00AM – 6:00PM | Gallagher Park, 9505 96 Avenue NW
August 15, 2026 – 4th Annual Traditional Healing Pow Wow | 9:00AM – 10:00PM | Energy Centre Field House
August 25, 2026 – KAIROS Blanket Exercise in Edmonton | 6:00PM – 9:00PM | 10335–172 Street, Edmonton
August 29, 2026 – Roots & Relations: Indigenous Market on 95th | Edmonton AB | Facebook | 12:00PM – 8:00PM | 11728 95 Street