Big Ideas, Rooted Impact.
Every gathering we host is designed with intention, honouring the space, the people in it, and the way each session flows.
Start Your Next Adventure With Us
Welcome to a space held for ideas that move people gently and deeply.
Here, we tend to quality, clarity, and connection, so that what you create can carry meaning and resonance long after you leave the space.
swit iʔ mnímɬtət Who we are
Studio sísp̓l̓k̓ is an Indigenous‑led, land‑based arts initiative on the unceded and unsurrendered traditional Syilx territory, in the heart of the Okanagan Indian Band community.
We create spaces where guests can slow down, be on the land, and make art in a good way. When you join us, you’re invited into small, guided experiences that connect story, materials, and place.
At Studio sísp̓l̓k̓, you might:
Work with natural and locally sourced materials
Take part in hands‑on art‑making and cultural practices
Learn about land stewardship, food plants, and responsible material use
Share time in creative spaces with Indigenous and non‑Indigenous artists who live on or near the Okanagan Indian Band
Our programming is guided by mentors, knowledge holders, and community relationships, so every gathering is grounded in Indigenous teachings, cultural continuity, and respect for the land.
You can expect:
Small, welcoming groups and a slower pace that allows for reflection and conversation
Experiences where art, intergenerational learning, food security, and land care are woven together
A focus on reciprocity, accessibility, and community benefit, so participation feels meaningful for everyone involved
Studio sísp̓l̓k̓ is less about consuming an art event and more about building ongoing relationships with land, materials, and story.
haɬswswítət Our Team
x̌ixʷutəm, Zhaangswi Giizis
c̓ʕán̓c̓n̓
The Horses
Lily, Crow, Gunner
iʔ snkɬc̓aʔsqáx̌aʔ
Sienna Belanger-Lee
Mariel Belanger
Founder & OwnerStudio CordinatorBig Ideas, Rooted Impacts.
Here, ideas have room to breathe and take shape. Whether you’re at the very beginning or refining what already exists, we walk alongside you, ask good questions theres no “dumb” questions, map next steps, and move with intention. Rooted in curiosity and purpose, this is where bold thinking is carried through into thoughtful, grounded action. Let’s build something that matters.
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Studio sísp̓l̓k̓ is an Indigenous-led studio working at the intersection of story, land, and design. Our practice is grounded in Syilx knowledge and in the relationships that hold us, family, community, and the places we come from.
We design gatherings, installations, workshops, and experiences that centre Indigenous voices and ways of knowing. Sometimes that looks like quiet, land-based learning; sometimes it looks like collaborations with galleries, cultural organizations, or other artists. Whatever the form, we move slowly and intentionally, listening for what the story, the land, and the community are asking for.
We’re not interested in quick trends. We’re here to help build work that feels true, relational, and enduring.
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1. Story-led design
We begin with a personal, familial, and land-based story. Before we choose tools or tactics, we listen for the deeper narrative: whose story is this, who is it for, and what responsibilities come with telling it? That story work guides everything we make.2. Land- and place-based thinking
Our work is rooted in this land and in Syilx knowledge. We pay attention to where a project is held, whose territory it sits on, and how the land is already in relationship with the people who gather there. That awareness shapes the experiences we design.3. Indigenous methodologies and ethics
We lean on Indigenous research and creative methodologies: relational accountability, reciprocity, and long-term responsibility to community. We ask not just “What can we make?” but “Who does this serve and how will it land seven generations from now?”4. Co-creation and collaboration
We don’t assume we’re the only experts in the room. We work alongside artists, Elders, knowledge keepers, organizations, and community members making space for many voices and ways of knowing. Good projects, for us, are built in conversation.5. Slow, intentional process
We move at the speed of relationship, not the speed of trends. That means taking time to listen, prototype, test, and adjust. We value careful preparation, clear communication, and experiences that feel grounded rather than rushed.6. Accessibility and care
We design with care for the people who will show up: their bodies, histories, and capacities. This includes thinking about access needs, cultural safety, emotional labour, and how people will feel before, during, and after an experience with us.7. Experimentation and play
Even in serious work, we make room for curiosity and play. We prototype, test ideas in small ways, and invite participants to explore with us through material, movement, technology, and story. -
From early-stage ideas to established organizations, we partner with people who care about doing things right and doing them well. Our collaborators include:
Caetani Art Centre
Vernon & District Performing Arts Centre
Vernon Public Art Gallery
Vernon Community Arts Centre
Vernon Summer School (VASS)
Local Syilx and other Indigenous artists in the Okanagan
Keli Westgate (Lekker Land Design)
Ullus Collective
Lady Dia and Trophy Kinfolk Nation
Miyawata Cultyre Inc.
Together, we build projects that centre story, land, and community.
This started as a passion project and has slowly become something more sustained, more rooted. We honour the path that brought us here and feel ready for what’s ahead. Our difference isn’t only in our process, it’s in the intention underneath it. We move slowly enough to understand, to ask better questions, and to create with care and purpose.
Our Stories
Community & Collaboration
Studio sísp̓l̓k̓ also collaborates with artists, elders, knowledge holders, and community organizations to design programs that respond to local needs and interests. This can include:
Partner projects with schools, arts groups, or community programs
Intergenerational gatherings focused on learning, making, and sharing food
Custom sessions that weave together film, discussion, and land‑based practice
All collaborations are approached with a focus on reciprocity, accessibility, and community benefit, ensuring that the work supports both the people and the places involved.
Awards
Okanagan Screen Awards
2024
FAQs
What services do you offer?
1
Our land‑based sessions bring participants directly into relationship with plants, water, soil, and seasonal cycles on Syilx territory. Each session is shaped by the time of year, the needs of the land, and the teachings that are appropriate to share.
Where are you located?
2
Studio sísp̓l̓k̓ and the nsisúlaʔxʷ Food Forest are located at 11745 Westside Road, on the west side of Okanagan Lake, between Vernon and West Kelowna. We’re on unceded Syilx territory, accessed along the winding lakeshore road.
What makes you different?
3
We combine a thoughtful, syilx-centred approach with clear communication and reliable results. It’s not just what we do, it’s how we do it that sets us apart.
How can I contact you?
4
You can reach us anytime via our contact page, socials or email. We aim to respond quickly, usually within one to two business days.
Contact us
Interested in working together? Fill out some info and we will be in touch shortly. We can’t wait to hear from you!
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