About

A Kamloops-based arts collective that shares and showcases Indigenous artists, businesses, and entrepreneurs.

The Indigenous Resurgence Project (IRP) is a grassroots, Indigenous-led arts initiative based in the Central Interior region of British Columbia. Founded in 2021—after several years of informal organizing—the project was born from a desire to build connection, visibility, and support for Indigenous artists in the Kamloops area and beyond.

At the heart of IRP is a commitment to community, belonging, and self-determined creativity. Our work is guided by the voices of local artists and their needs for connection, opportunity, and growth. We believe that Indigenous artists and creators are the heart of our communities—carrying stories, teachings, and knowledge that strengthen both culture and future generations.

We create spaces where Indigenous artists—regardless of their status, background, or relationship to tradition—can feel welcome, seen, and supported. Whether grounded in ancestral practice, contemporary expression, or somewhere in between, all forms of Indigenous creativity are valid and vital. We support artists in reclaiming, reshaping, and redefining what it means to be Indigenous and making art today.

Project History

The Indigenous Resurgence Project was officially established as a grassroots arts collective in January 2021—but its roots stretch back to 2018, when the first gathering under the name Artists for Reconciliation brought Indigenous artists together in a spirit of creativity, dialogue, and community-building. What began as an informal event quickly grew into a movement, evolving through various names and forms while consistently centering Indigenous voices in the arts.

Founded by Secwépemc artist and community organizer Shay Paul, the IRP was born out of personal experience. As a young, emerging artist in Kamloops, Shay felt the isolation that can come with navigating the arts world alone—especially as an Indigenous person. Wanting to connect with others who shared her experiences, she began organizing opportunities for Indigenous artists to come together. What she found was a shared need: for community, for visibility, and for spaces that felt safe, supportive, and rooted in culture.

In its early years, the project focused on pop-up artisan markets, cultural gatherings, and grassroots events that created space for artists to showcase their work and build relationships. When the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted in-person events, IRP adapted by developing a virtual resource space to continue supporting artists during a time of heightened disconnection.

Through it all, the heart of the project has remained the same: to support Indigenous artists and creators by fostering belonging, celebrating identity, and creating spaces for Indigenous resurgence through the arts.

"I think shining some positivity on things like this is almost a necessity[.]"

Susan Edgell, CFJC Midday - 2019

Our Mission

The Vision

We envision a thriving arts community where Indigenous artists of all disciplines feel empowered, visible, and supported—locally and beyond. The IRP seeks to reclaim space for Indigenous creativity and voice, and to build long-term, sustainable pathways for artists to grow, collaborate, and lead.