About Kayanou

Why we exist

Many histories, especially those of Indigenous, African, Caribbean, Francophone and immigrant communities, remain insufficiently documented, recognized or represented in mainstream historical narratives. We work so that the history of Black Francophones in Alberta is documented, recognized and represented.

Our mission

By preserving the history of the Black Francophone community, Kayanou educates, inspires and encourages shared learning. We empower communities, and we advance cultural diversity and inclusion in Alberta.

Our vision

To become the reference on the history of Black Francophones in Alberta, through shared learning, community empowerment and cultural diversity.

Our motto

Educate, inspire and encourage shared learning.

We gather what risks being lost.

We record oral histories, conduct interviews, document in pictures and sound, and gather archives with communities. We follow the paths of elders, artists, writers, families and cultural leaders whose stories risk being lost. For us, an archive is living knowledge, kept to serve the generations that come next.

See the Black Francophone heritage project

We give a stage to voices that rarely get one.

The Salon interculturel du livre de l’Alberta (SILAB) brings authors, poets, artists, educators, cultural organizations and the public together around creation and storytelling. It makes room for emerging and established voices, especially those that lack visibility. 2026 edition: Edmonton, October 8 to 10, then Calgary, November 5 to 7.

See SILAB

We connect elders and young people.

Elders carry memories, languages and traditions. Young people bring fresh eyes and digital tools. Workshops, storytelling sessions, mentorship and shared documentation projects bring them together. At SILAB, students read, write and meet the authors, and the GRIOTS app will connect young people with the experience of community elders.

See the GRIOTS app

We bring histories into conversation.

Alberta is home to communities whose histories cross: First Nations, Métis and other Indigenous Peoples, Francophone communities, African and Caribbean diasporas, and people who have arrived from many parts of the world. We recognize the distinct histories, rights and relationships of Indigenous Peoples with their traditional territories. In Calgary, the Saturday program of SILAB 2026 opened with a dialogue with an Indigenous knowledge keeper about the land, memory and the ties that bind communities to it.

See the SILAB programs

We work to build archives that last.

We want to help create digital archives, oral history collections, documentaries and educational publications that keep community knowledge within reach of students, families, researchers and future generations. We build partnerships with historical societies, universities and cultural and community organizations so that these resources keep serving communities long after each project ends.

Our preservation work is guided by respect for cultural ownership, informed consent and the right of communities to decide how their histories and knowledge are documented, interpreted and shared.

For us, inclusion means giving communities real opportunities to take part, contribute, express themselves and shape the narratives that represent them.