A Vision Rooted in Community, Creativity, and Mentorship
The Indigenous Resurgence Project (IRP) is proud to introduce Stínesten Gallery, an Indigenous-owned and operated arts space opening in summer 2025. Stínesten will be a welcoming hub for mentorship, artistic collaboration, and community-building, providing Indigenous artists with a low-barrier entry point into the arts community.
Located at 140 Laburnum Street on the Kamloops North Shore, thanks to a generous space donation from Kamloops United Church and additional funding from Indigenous Youth Roots, Stínesten Gallery aims to bridge the gap between emerging artists and established art spaces.
As an extension of IRP’s mission, Stínesten will uplift artists not only as creators, but as storytellers, knowledge-keepers, and vital cultural voices. Indigenous artistry spans countless forms—from traditional practices to innovative contemporary work—and Stínesten will embrace and celebrate this diversity. Above all, the gallery will offer a platform where Indigenous voices, stories, and artistic expressions can thrive—rooted in culture, community, and self-determination.
“I understand that there can be gaps and barriers and sometimes some of the things in the art world can be intimidating to an artist, especially if that artist is self taught. And a lot of Indigenous artists are self taught. So, it’s jumping that barrier or changing the way that artists see their opening to the art world.”
Shay Paul, Project Director of the IRP
The Meaning of Stínesten
The name Stínesten, meaning “cedar root” in Secwepemctsin, was chosen to reflect the cultural and ecological significance of cedar roots in Secwepemc culture. Cedar roots intertwine underground, creating a strong foundation that holds the land together. In the same way, Stínesten Gallery seeks to nurture Indigenous artistic growth, strengthen community ties, and ensure that Indigenous artists are deeply rooted in the cultural and creative fabric of Kamloops.
The IRP was started by Secwepemc artist, Shay Paul, who saw the need for an Indigenous-led arts collective in her home territory of Tk'emlúps. By using a Secwepemc name for the gallery, she wants to continue honoring her roots in her community and the people who helped support the project to this point.
Building an Arts Community That Thrives in Kamloops
Stínesten Gallery seeks to address a pressing need for more gallery space and exhibition opportunities in Kamloops, offering both individual exhibitions for Indigenous artists and group exhibitions that will seek to include artists from other cultural backgrounds. These group exhibitions will focus on shared themes that allow all participants to explore and express their unique perspectives.
Beyond exhibitions, the gallery will serve as a structured support system for Indigenous artists, offering mentorship opportunities to help emerging artists gain experience, confidence, and professional development. One of the long-term goals is to create a space where local artists can thrive without feeling they need to move away to pursue their careers.
Stínesten Gallery will offer:
A Platform for All Art Forms – Stínesten follows the IRP’s mission to support and showcase artists across all disciplines and styles, reinforcing that Indigenous art is about storytelling, reclamation, and diverse creative expression—not about adhering to a single style or form
Mentorship & Artistic Development – Hands on experience in gallery settings, ensuring artists are developing active portfolios and written resources for furthering their artist careers.
Workshops & Artist Talks – Skill-building sessions and discussions led by experienced Indigenous artists and mentors.
Networking & Community Events – Opportunities for artists to build relationships and strengthen community ties.
“Kamloops only has so many options for displaying art, and there’s not a lot of Indigenous-led spaces like you find in the lower mainland–The Bill Reid Gallery, the Lattimer Gallery–even then, those can still be really colonial spaces, where artists are expected to fit a certain style or expectation. With Stínesten, we’re hoping to lower barriers for artists.”
Cai Brown, Project Coordinator and Interim Gallery Coordinator.
Join us on the Journey
As Stínesten Gallery moves closer to its grand opening in summer 2025, we invite everyone — artists, allies, cultural workers, community members, and supporters — to walk alongside us in this exciting chapter of our project.
Building a gallery is about more than preparing a physical space — it’s about building relationships, nurturing trust, and creating a foundation rooted in respect, reciprocity, and shared vision. Every step of this process, from preparing the space to planning programming and shaping the vision, is guided by the voices, needs, and hopes of the artists and community it serves.
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This gallery was born from a vision of Indigenous artists supporting Indigenous artists—a space built by and for the community. Your involvement will shape the future of this project, ensuring that it is not just a gallery, but a thriving cultural hub where Indigenous creativity is celebrated and supported.
Let’s build this together.
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