My CBU Story: Meet Tyra Paul

“If I could talk to my younger self, I’d tell her, ‘Don’t worry,’ that one day, she’ll be connected. Not just connected, but immersed in people and a culture that love and support her.”

For Tyra Paul, graduating from Cape Breton University’s Bachelor of Business Administration program this spring is more than an academic milestone. It represents a journey of cultural reconnection, self-discovery and healing.

Originally from Pictou Landing First Nation, Tyra spent most of her childhood in urban Nova Scotia. Growing up away from her home community, she often felt disconnected from her Mi’kmaw culture. “The culture was always there, but it wasn’t easily accessible to me,” she says. “As a young woman going through school, not having that sense of identity made things harder.”

After graduating high school with honours in 2014, Tyra enrolled at Saint Mary’s University but found the transition overwhelming. “It was like being dropped into Hogwarts and expected to figure it all out on my own,” she says. She later transferred to Nova Scotia Community College, where she completed a diploma in Business Administration. “The smaller setting and access to support made all the difference,” she explains.

After finishing her program, Tyra faced another set of challenges. A difficult period followed, marked by struggles with mental health and addiction. “Those were really hard years,” she says. “But I decided to get sober, and I stayed sober. That was in 2021.”

She credits her family, especially her mother, for being her foundation through every phase of her journey. “She’s been my biggest supporter from day one,” Tyra says. “Even in my hardest times, she believed in me. She challenged me, encouraged me and never gave up on me.”

“It was really just me, my mom and our dog for a long time,” she adds. “That time together gave me the space I needed to reset. Without her, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”

In 2022, Tyra and her mother moved to Sydney Forks. It was a decision that almost instantly changed her path.

“The moment I arrived in Unama’ki, I could feel that this was the heart of Mi’kma’ki,” she says. “I could see myself in the people here. I felt included. I felt accepted right away, and I felt like it was my duty to reconnect in any way possible, emotionally, spiritually and culturally.”

Tyra quickly found community, like-minded peers with similar goals around ideas like Mi’kmaw culture, language and education. This was a place where Tyra could focus on reconnecting with her Mi’kmaw culture.

That fall, she enrolled at Cape Breton University. What she found was more than an academic program. It was a community. “I didn’t know what to expect from Unama’ki College, but the welcome was immediate,” she says. “I made friends for life, found mentors who believed in me, and finally felt safe asking for help.”

Throughout her studies, Tyra leaned on the wide range of supports available at CBU. Faculty members, student services, academic advisors and cultural staff helped guide her through each semester. “I never felt judged when I reached out,” she says. “There was always someone there to listen, to encourage me and to remind me what I was capable of.”

Tyra is now working with Mi’kmaw Kina’matnewey as coordinator of academic services and also language and culture. “This isn’t just a job for me. It’s personal,” she says. “I want kids to have the support I didn’t know I had. Especially those living farther from Unama’ki, where that cultural connection can be harder to find.”

Reflecting on her journey, Tyra shares a message for students who may be struggling. “The relationship you have with yourself is the one that will lead you where you’re meant to be. There were years I told myself I wasn’t smart enough, but I changed that inner dialogue. I started saying, ‘I’m going to try.’ Then soon enough it became, ‘I’m going to do this.'”

Tyra’s transformation, from a student feeling disconnected and lost, to a confident graduate grounded in community and culture, is one she hopes others in her position can relate to and learn from.

“The healing doesn’t end. Learning doesn’t end. But now I ask myself, does this serve me, my family and my people? If it doesn’t, I’ll let it go. That’s how I know I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.”

Congratulations to Tyra and the entire graduating class of Spring 2025!