Our story

"I don’t think there’s any one thing or moment that made me decide to write. In fact, I don’t even remember when it started," said Tiyahna, "I started writing because I had to. I was tired of not seeing people who looked like me and my family in the books I read, the shows I watched. I was frustrated with the narrative that Blackness could only be feared, fetishized or ignored all together. I wanted new stories, a different story -- and I wanted young people to grow up knowing a different story too.”

Years ago, Tiyahna began reading, researching, and connecting with others to learn about Canada’s Black history. She learned about leaders like Josiah Henson who saved lives through their bravery. She read about Carrie Best and Bromley Armstrong who improved laws through their advocacy. The more she researched, the more she realized how incredible Canada’s Black history was. 

“Amidst the narrative that Canada is a multicultural haven, we’ve erased Black experiences. And so, I had the idea to make my personal research public, to write these stories back in. ”

When she decided to turn her research into a book, Tiyahna put out a call for an illustrator. She connected with Merryl-Royce, a self-taught artist and a devoted dad. 

He immediately saw the importance of the project. “It’s not something you see often: a book that focuses on Black Canadians,” said Merryl-Royce. “I wanted to make sure I was able to put my touch on it, and show the diversity in Black representation.” 

“Sometimes I can look at a Black cartoon and know that they weren’t drawn by a Black illustrator, ” added Tiyahna. “ It’s something about the features and skin tones. I knew Merryl-Royce could capture the dignity, personality and beauty of each trailblazer.” 

Before long, Trailblazers: The Black Pioneers Who Have Shaped Canada was born. It was more than a children’s book, it was a love letter, an anthology, and a call to action. Using colourful illustrations and rhyming poems, the book introduced Canada's Black history through the stories of forty incredible change makers.

Their next step was to find a publisher. The pair submitted the book to eight publishers, and only attracted the interest of one. They went back and forth for a couple of months, but the publisher kept wanting changes.

“It got to the point where it no longer looked like the book we submitted,” Tiyahna said. “Then they offered us a contract that stated we wouldn’t have a say in the look and feel of the book. It felt like they were saying that these Black stories could only be told if White gatekeepers could tell them. We decided to pull out.” 

The duo launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise  $10,000 to self-publish the book. To their surprise, the campaign met the $10,000 goal in ten hours. At the end of their 40-day campaign, Trailblazers had raised nearly $50,000. 

The community support that mobilized was powerful. Two weeks before the first book print, another exciting opportunity emerged. Indigo Press, the retailer’s publishing arm, approached Tiyahna. They promised her creative control, a rare offer for new authors, especially ones of colour. The pair decided to sign with Indigo. In an industry where publishers gatekeep which stories are told, how and by whom, Trailblazers became an act of resistance.  

Since hitting the stores on November 10th, 2020, Trailblazers took off. The book has reached families, libraries, and schools across Canada. 

“I have never felt so moved and excited about a book before,” expressed Leah, a grade 4 elementary school teacher. “[Trailblazers] brings to light stories that needed to be shared. Thank you for finding a way to convey the injustice in a way that is safe for kids to begin the discussion. You showed them the person behind the story that they could empathize with. You didn't sugar coat the injustices. You shared a different perspective and humanized each person. It’s SO powerful. I think you have done justice to all the individuals who's stories are featured in the book. You’ve honoured their memory, for some, centuries after their life has ended.” 

The reception to Trailblazers exceeded Tiyahna’s wildest dreams. Despite this, she couldn’t help but acknowledge how much more work remained. Media portrayals of marginalized folk continue to be plagued by harmful tropes. Dominant culture continues to be upheld by gatekeepers. Stories continue to exclude marginalized voices.  

"I wanted to build off the Trailblazers momentum. To use my experience to make room for more stories, for counterstories," said Tiyahna. 

Counter storytelling was coined by Xicanx scholar Richard Delgado. The tool emerged as a way to analyze narratives, challenge dominant discourse, and create space for underrepresented voices.  

Accordingly, Counterstory.ca was founded in 2021. The firm builds on the work of racialized scholars, storytellers, and activists to spark social change through counter-storytelling and anti-racist communications.