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.

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.