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Embark on a unique and enchanting evening cruise aboard the Edmonton Riverboat for an unforgettable evening learning about our river, the land around us, and their histories. Glide along the shimmering waters of the North Saskatchewan River while immersing yourself in the captivating poetry and storytelling of Naomi McIlwraith and the vibrant fiddle melodies of Adam Daigneault. 

Don't miss this special opportunity to connect with Métis culture in a truly memorable way. Secure your spot today and prepare for an evening of beauty, reflection, and celebration on the river!

Registration will close when the event reaches capacity, or on July 20, 2025.

Naomi's book "kiyâm: Poems by Naomi McIlwraith" will be for sale at the event for $20 (cash only). If you already have her book at home, please feel welcome to bring it for Naomi to sign.  

Synopsis: Through poems that move between the two languages, McIlwraith explores the beauty of the intersection between nêhiyawêwin, the Plains Cree language, and English, âkayâsîmowin. Written to honour her father's facility in nêhiyawêwin and her mother's beauty and generosity as an inheritor of Cree, Ojibwe, Scottish, and English, kiyâm articulates a powerful yearning for family, history, peace, and love.

Parking information

The Edmonton Riverboat is located in the River Valley of Henrietta Muir Edwards Park. 

To access the boat, you can park at Rafters Landing and walk through the park. Use of the parking lot. There is additional parking at the Henrietta Muir Edwards Park parking lot, just east of Rafters Landing near the new LRT bridge. 

Please note that these are public parking lots operated by the City of Edmonton and we do not have any control over parking availability . As this is a public parking lot,  please ensure you leave enough time to find parking. Do not park on any grassy areas as the City of Edmonton will ticket. 

There is also street parking along 96A Street and 98A Ave, north of 98 Ave. for directions.

We recommend using other modes of transport whenever possible (public transportation, car pool, Uber, Bird or Lime, taxi, etc.). 

Once you are parked, there will be signage directing you to walk north along a city park path down an inclined paved trail to the boat where there will be an option to take stairs or a paved trail to the boarding area.

Rain contingencies

The Riverboat operates rain or shine except in circumstances such as low water levels. The dining room is a fully covered space with windows overlooking the water.

Accessibility

The boat is wheelchair accessible. They do have a wheelchair lift that provides access to the lower deck, but it is restricted to walkers and non-motorized wheelchairs only. There is also a wheelchair-accessible washroom on the lower deck.

Please be aware that you will need to travel approximately 200 meters north from the parking lot to reach the boat. There is also a relatively steep slope from the parking lot to the dock, or a set of stairs located east from the incline. Accessing the boat via the gangway involves an incline up and then an incline down.

There is a drop off zone near the dock closer to the boat where guests with mobility issues can be dropped off. The driver will need to park in the main lot once the guest is dropped off. 

If you have any mobility issues, please reach out to our team at indigenousalumni@ualberta.ca for further assistance.

Naomi McIlwraith, ’89 BPE, ’00 BA, ’07 MA, ’17 BEd

Naomi hails from amiskwacî-wâskahikan, Plains Cree for Beaver Mountain House, also known as Edmonton. Naomi writes to honour her parents, Lavona and Mowat McIlwraith, her Grandmother Lucabelle, her other grandparents, and the rest of her family. A Métis writer with a Cree, Anishinaabe, Scottish, English, and French inheritance, Naomi gratefully uses her education to build a more peaceful world. Born and raised here, she has wandered near and far but always manages to find her way back home to Treaty Six land. A teacher, a talker, a poet, and a peacemaker, she now works as an Indigenous Framework Operations Coordinator with the City of Edmonton and is grateful to continue her truth and reconciliation work in this new role.

Adam Daigneault

Adam is Cree and Métis from Île-à-la-Crosse, Saskatchewan. He was raised traditionally by his grandparents, surrounded by fiddle music. As a young boy, Adam played guitar and then started learning the fiddle, performing for the first time at 15 years old. He attends many old-time fiddle dances in his community and local communities. Now, Adam is a fiddle champion and has composed his own music. He is an all-around artist. Adam travels around the country playing his fiddle at dance halls, festivals, and private functions. Currently residing in central ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ and working as an Educator, Adam is musically active and always looks forward to his next music gig and travel adventure.

LEARNING FROM THE LAND: AN ALUMNI SERIES

This event is part of the Learning from the Land Series hosted by the Department of Alumni Relations. This series comprises traditional plant walks, river walks and a river cruise at various locations throughout ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥. Land-based learning recognizes the deep physical, mental and spiritual connection to the land that is part of Indigenous cultures. Join our vibrant alumni community as we learn from the land around us and understand our connection to it.

See all Learning from the Land events