A First Nation woman from northern B.C. is speaking out after she was arrested by two RCMP officers in the early morning hours of Boxing Day 2024 while attempting to withdraw money from an ATM.

”We were not a danger to the public at all, just three young First Nation adults going to use the ATM,” said Sydney Tibbetts, who is from Nak’azdli Whuten, a First Nation near the town of Fort St. James, about 150 kilometres northwest of Prince George.

“No one had previous contact with the police that night, they just up and followed us.”

At around 2:30 a.m., after celebrating Christmas night with family, Tibbetts and her two cousins Kinnon Cameron and Jerard Alexander, decided to leave Kinnon’s house and walk to the ATM in the town of Fort St. James.

Tibbetts told APTN News that is when two RCMP officers approached them while they were using the ATM inside.

“(They) stated we needed to get out of the bank because we were drunk,” said Tibbetts, “to be clear, the three of us were all very coherent and were not causing a disturbance to the public. No one was being disruptive or yelling or falling or anything.

“I’m not sure why they weren’t allowing us to use the ATM. It made no sense to us.”

Tibbetts said they listened to the RCMP and walked outside to the side of the building but decided to try again with only one person entering the ATM.

“I decided to go as I was being protective of my friend Kinnon, I didn’t want him to face two RCMP police officers alone,” said Tibbetts.

Again, the RCMP refused to let them in the bank.

“I was asking what we were doing wrong and why we couldn’t just use the ATM for five minutes, so we were standing there trying to compromise with them,” said Tibbetts.

That is when Tibbett’s cousin Alexander decides to pull out his phone and record the interaction between them and the RCMP.

A video of the arrest 

A two-and-a-half-minute video shared with APTN showed the two male RCMP officers speaking with Tibbetts and Cameron, who were visibly upset for not being allowed to the use the ATM.

Both Tibbetts and Cameron swear and yell at the RCMP and accuse the officers of racism. Tibbetts sai she also asked the officers if they were going to throw her down because she’s brown.

One of the officers then grabs Tibbetts by the arm to arrest her, the second officer also grabs Tibbetts’ arm.

“(The constable) seemed like he got frustrated and stepped forward, reached out and grabbed my hand and said, ‘I was under arrest,’” she said. “I was confused, scared and in shock because I believe I did nothing wrong and they did not have the grounds to arrest me.”

Tibbetts attempted to get away but is pulled to the ground by both officers. A struggle ensues before they put Tibbetts on her chest and force her arms behind her back to arrest her.

“(The officers) were pulling my arms over my shoulders making it hard for me to breathe and putting unbelievable pressure on my body. (The one officer) then lifts his hand up and hits me in the center of my back while both my hands are cuffed. He then puts his entire weight on my back, he is heavy and at least 300 pounds and he put his knee on my head to the ground,” said Tibbetts.

Meanwhile, Tibbetts friends continued to film, swear and accuse the officers of racism and demand their badge number and supervisor’s name.

One of the officers tells them to get back or else they’d be pepper sprayed. Tibbetts can be heard crying and telling her cousins to call her mom.

“To say I was scared for my life and wellbeing was an understatement,” said Tibbetts.

The two officers take Tibbetts back to the RCMP detachment.

While in a cold cell, she said an officer threatened to take her sweater away if she didn’t calm down.

Tibbetts said she slept for just over an hour before she had a call with a lawyer and she was later released outside her home at 5 a.m. by an officer. She then walked on foot to her brother’s home.

“I was in shock, I had some injuries to my head and my whole body. I now have back issues as well as going through a huge mental breakdown from the incident and I had to take time off from work for my mental health,” said Tibbets.

When reached, RCMP Cpl Madonna Saunderson, media relations with B.C. RCMP’s North District said they take RCMP member’s conduct very seriously and thoroughly investigate all complaints but would not comment on the incident because no formal charges have been laid against Tibbetts.

“To respect an individual’s privacy, we cannot confirm the name of any person arrested or the details surrounding the arrest until such time as charges been laid,” said Saunderson.

Saunderson encourages anyone who may have been subjected to misconduct by officers to report it directly to the management of the local RCMP detachment or to the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the RCMP, an independent agency.

“I can confirm that detachment and district leadership have been engaged and offered the family specific information about the complaints process. The Privacy Act precludes use from providing specific details about the event,” added Saunderson.

Tibbetts alleged the RCMP targeted her that night and says she is a well-respected member who lives and works in the community and does not have a criminal record.

Tibbetts said she’s filing a complaint against the RCMP and may pursue legal action.

Meanwhile, her mother has been organizing peaceful protests outside the local RCMP detachment to raise awareness about police conduct.

“Police violence against First Nations people needs to end. Our people are suffering so much at the hands of the RCMP. The people who are supposed to help us and be our protectors are the very ones causing us pain and extended trauma. I am afraid to be in any spaces with a police officer, especially alone,” said Tibbetts.

Tibbetts would like to see an apology from BC RCMP and disciplinary action against the two officers involved, including removing them from the community. She also wants the RCMP to provide more Indigenous cultural sensitivity training to its officers and new trainees.

“I will stop at nothing until these individuals are held accountable for the awful and brutal mistreatment I received. I want people to know and spread awareness of these types of police officers,” said Tibbetts.

APTN reached out to Nak’azdli Whuten leadership but did not get a response by the time this article was published.

The post Arrest by RCMP has left physical and emotional trauma says Nak’azdli Whuten woman appeared first on APTN News.

L’honorable Michelle O’Bomsawin rejoint Kim Sullivan pour un entretien captivant en studio, où elle partage son expérience de vie en tant que juge depuis sa nomination.

The post EN STUDIO : L’honorable Michelle O’Bonsawin, première juge autochtone de la Cour suprême du Canada appeared first on APTN News.

Three young black bear cubs from the Dryden area are receiving round-the-clock care at a southern Ontario rehabilitation centre. The cubs were separated from their mother when their den was accidentally disturbed by logging, says Mike McIntosh of the Bear With Us Sanctuary for orphaned and injured bear cubs near Huntsville. 

Ottawa's largest school board plans to cut staffing by 150 full-time positions by the next school year as it faces both a drop in kindergarten enrolment and a projected $20-million budget shortfall. 

The Special Olympics World Winter Games just wrapped up in Italy and six Nova Scotia athletes representing Team Canada made their country proud. Celina Aalders was at the Halifax airport when their flight home landed.

A former Nova Scotia Public Works employee is speaking out about the dangerous ruts on Highway 125 in Cape Breton. The minister says some relief is on the way this summer, but only on a short stretch of road in his riding. Kyle Moore has the story.

Daniel Bresca hopes his brother can ‘find a reason to live’ after losing his family in a house fire in Oshawa last week.

Biosolids are sometimes used as natural fertilizers to provide nutrients for farmland. Quebec will introduce a new code to guarantee the safe recovery of these materials to reduce environmental and health risks.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has agreed to a proposal by United States President Donald Trump for Russia and Ukraine to stop attacking each other’s energy infrastructure for 30 days, according to statements by both the White House and the Kremlin.

The deal, however, falls short of an unconditional 30-day ceasefire proposed by U.S. and Ukrainian officials earlier this month.

Russia’s response to the initial U.S. ceasefire proposal has been predictable. Putin has argued that considerable changes need to be made to the original proposal, though he didn’t outright reject it.

Given the earlier proposal is highly vague, this leads to one conclusion. Russia is playing for time to maximize its negotiating position.

Trump’s latest phone call with Putin seemingly didn’t amount to any substantive changes, except for Russia’s agreement to refrain from targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure — a concession that might actually benefit Russia.

The winter, when Ukraine is most vulnerable to Russian attacks on its energy infrastructure, is almost done. Russia’s dependence on energy exports to support its war effort, however, remains constant, and any Ukrainian attacks on Russian energy facilities will be framed as a breach by Russian authorities.

Russia exploiting Trump’s desire for peace at any cost will probably be an ongoing trend.

Trump’s goal

The U.S. is playing an important role in peace negotiations. Under former president Joe Biden, this was due to the fact that the U.S. provided Ukraine with arms and moral support.

Like most aspects of American policy, however, Trump dramatically pivoted, even attacking Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy in an infamous White House meeting in February. Now Trump is seeking a ceasefire, no matter what form it takes, to build a reputation as a statesman and distract Americans from domestic policy issues.

Read more: What the U.S. ceasefire proposal means for Ukraine, Russia, Europe – and Donald Trump

This development places Zelenskyy in a political bind. The U.S. in the past provided most of the military aid to Ukraine and the relationship between the Ukrainian leader and Trump is acrimonious.

As such, even if Zelenskyy doesn’t agree with American ceasefire proposals, he must give the appearance of agreement or risk permanently alienating the mercurial Trump. Putin, in the meantime, will exploit any Ukrainian-American tensions.

Current military situation

The first year of the current phase of the Ukraine-Russia war was marked by mobility as both Russia and Ukraine made considerable advances and counteroffensives.

Since the start of 2023, however, the conflict is increasingly defined as a war of attrition and a stalemate.

Many analysts argue that such a war favours Russia. Wars of attrition are defined by slow, grinding advances whereby large casualties are a necessary byproduct for success. Given Russia’s material and personnel advantages, it can afford to suffer higher casualties.

For the past several months, Russian forces have been making slow, steady advances against Ukrainian positions. Russia has suffered significant casualties in these advances, and they may not be sustainable over the long term.

Putin is gambling that Ukraine’s and the international community’s will to fight will be broken by the time this is an issue. Trump’s push for a ceasefire at any cost suggests Putin may have a point.

Any immediate ceasefire agreement between Russia and Ukraine would leave Ukraine occupying Russian soil in the Kursk region, which Russia cannot accept.

Russia’s immediate goal

Ukraine’s 2024 incursion into the Kursk region provided the country and its people with a necessary respite from the war of attrition. Ukrainian forces, attacking an under-defended and unprepared part of the Russian front line, made significant advances into Russia.

Ukraine’s ability to maintain territory around Kursk has also proven to be an embarrassment for Putin and the Russian establishment.

Putin recently said Russian forces encircled Ukrainian forces in the salient, although Ukraine denies it. Regardless of the statement’s validity, it speaks to the importance both parties attach to the battle.

Russia’s reputation

This issue highlights a particular problem for the Russian leadership. Russia has done its utmost to frame its so-called “special military operation” in Ukraine as a success. An example is Russia’s formal annexation of four Ukrainian areas in 2022, despite not actually possessing the territory at the time.

Any perception of the invasion of Ukraine as a failure is a non-starter for a Russian government concerned about its domestic standing.

Ukraine possessing Russian territory, however, leads to questions in Russia about the war’s success. Ukraine, in exchange for relinquishing any Russian territory it seized during the war, would undoubtedly seek the return of Ukrainian territory.

Russia has not even achieved its minimal goals of seizing the four Ukrainian regions it’s officially annexed. Therefore, it’s unlikely Putin would ever agree to the exchange of the territory it has actually already seized in exchange for the Kursk salient.

Putin is following the Russian playbook of negotiating from strength. So long as Ukraine maintains Kursk, Russia will not negotiate in good faith.

While Kursk is the most prominent area of Russia concern, there are other conditions that will become important in the future as Putin seeks to improve Russia’s negotiating position.

It’s a lesson that Trump will soon learn, despite any and all efforts he or his administration make to frame things positively.

James Horncastle does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

Landmark Collegiate students are getting ready to whisk an audience away to another time and place in an upcoming performance.

"This Thursday and Friday we're doing a play called the Mystery at Shady Acres, and it takes place in the 1920s at this quaint little hotel in England," says Melanie Friesen, the school's band and choir teacher.

Students in grades seven to 12 will be a part of the cast for the classic 'whodunit' narrative, with about three to five youth from each grade for a total of 26.

"It's a super great bonding experience for the kids to get to know each other in the school, and builds connection and relationships amongst the kids within the school. It's pretty cool to see," Friesen says.

Each cast member brings a different background to the  performance. Some with dance, some gymnastics, and more.

The teacher explains the play is not a musical, but many talents are still being used.

Finding time to rehearse itself has been a bit of a skill, she says.

"It's tricky because we do our performances in the gym, so we share it with basketball and badminton and all the things in small town schools," Friesen explains.

That has made putting the show together a little stressful, but she says it certainly hasn't discounted the fun.

She gives a taste of what to expect.

"A necklace gets stolen, and it's a 'whodunit,' so there's a lot of really interesting characters. There's a mystery Mr. X, and lots of different hotel guests," she says.

The group will perform a total of four shows, including two matinees for local schools during the afternoon on March 20 and 21, and two 7 p.m. shows open to the public on the same days.

Tickets for the public shows are available for purchase at the door, or at Landmark Collegiate's front office, for $10 per adult and $6 per kid under 12-years-old.

Written with files from Kenton Dyck

Winnipeg police say a 35-year-old man and a 33-year-old man are facing charges after allegedly crashing a stolen vehicle.

Around 8 p.m. on Monday, the Winnipeg Police Service says it was notified that a 2004 Dodge Ram had been stolen from a parking lot in the 1100 block of Main Street.

Police say at approximately 11:45 p.m., officers were patrolling in the West Elmwood neighbourhood when they observed a Dodge Ram make an illegal left turn in the back lane between Hespeller Avenue and Hart Avenue.

The Dodge Ram continued travelling west while speeding, police say, eventually losing control and colliding into a hydro pole, parked vehicles, and a fence.

The vehicle crashed near a residence in 100 block of Hespeller Avenue, according to authorities. It was confirmed the Dodge Ram and its rear licence plate were stolen.

One suspect was arrested on scene without incident. Police say shortly after, they located the second suspect nearby.

The 35-year-old man from Winnipeg is facing charges of dangerous operation of a conveyance, possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000 and possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000.

The 33-year-old man from Little Saskatchewan First Nation, Man., is facing two counts of possession of property obtained by a crime over $5,000.

Both suspects have been released.

The post 2 men arrested after allegedly crashing stolen car in Winnipeg: police appeared first on CityNews Winnipeg.

Ce nouveau cours de journalisme, offert sur le territoire Mohawk de Kanehsatake, est pour tous âges, tous niveaux d’expertise et toutes les communautés.

Un reportage de Savanna Craig.

The post Un cours de journalisme aide les étudiants autochtones à acquérir les compétences nécessaires appeared first on APTN News.

HALIFAX — Nova Scotia’s opposition leaders are questioning an undisclosed trip by a provincial cabinet minister to U.S. President Donald Trump’s inauguration in January.

Minister of Social Development Scott Armstrong says he got the ticket through connections in South Carolina and was working in conjunction with the premier’s office because they needed someone to attend the event.

Armstrong says he didn’t attend the actual inauguration ceremony because cold weather forced it indoors, but he did attend an event at the Canadian Embassy where he was able to talk to business leaders and do media interviews about the tariff threat.

Interim Liberal leader Derek Mombourquette, who raised the issue in the legislature, says taxpayers’ money was used by a minister whose portfolio has nothing to do with international trade.

According to an expense report filed by Armstrong, the trip cost a total of $3,288.

NDP Leader Claudia Chender says she takes issue with the fact Armstrong’s trip wasn’t announced publicly, and she believes he should have paid for it himself.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 18, 2025.

The Canadian Press

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A Nova Scotia judge has referred a convicted murderer to a restorative justice program — a first for the province. Nova Scotia’s provincial flag flies on a flag pole in Ottawa, Friday July 3, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

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REGINA – Premier Scott Moe opened Canada’s Farm Show in Regina on Tuesday, but it was clear that looming tariffs were very much on his mind.

In remarks to those attending the “Thank You Farmers Breakfast” event Tuesday, and in speaking to reporters afterwards, Moe was clearly concerned about the impact of tariffs from the United States and even more so from China.

“Second to the U.S. tariffs, likely the most urgent and impactful tariff from Saskatchewan’s perspective is the 100 per cent Chinese tariff on canola oil and meal,” Moe told reporters.

“That is one that we are going to feel immediately here in this province in the next number of weeks. That’s why I’ve asked the new Prime Minister to reach out to President Xi in China before he calls an election to offer a plan on how we’re going to chart a path forward and that tariff can be removed. Because by the time even an election rip period is over federally, we’ll be facing substantial job loss, not only in Saskatchewan, but across Western Canada.”

Moe called that tariff “a Western Canadian expense at the benefit of a non-existent EV auto industry in Eastern Canada.“

The China tariffs are due to take effect Thursday. As for the tariffs coming from President Donald Trump, Moe noted that “things just change so, so rapidly. And often, you know, whether it’s myself or others, I will learn of the President’s decisions at the same time as everyone else does.”

Moe pointed to his and his government’s engagement efforts with the USA. He said his government was “having our conversations and meeting with all of the folks that we can that may be in the room to ensure that the President and his administration understand the true impacts of what some of those tariffs mean for American families, what they mean for North American food and energy security.

“And they’re detrimental. They increase inflation, reduce jobs, and are just not in tune with building a stronger North America.”

On the looming China tariff threat, Premier Moe was asked if he had spoken yet to the new Prime Minister Mark Carney. Moe replied he had not, however he did express plans to reach out. Moe said there had been some talk of putting together a First Minister’s meeting for this week, but added he was limited in his ability to attend given it is budget week in Saskatchewan.

There has been rampant speculation Carney might call a federal election in the coming days and Moe said he seee that “quite likely happening.” But Moe stressed how critical it was for Carney to reach out to China on the canola tariffs before any election call. 

“Prime Minister Carney determines when the election will be called, unless he faces a vote of non-confidence in the House. He should use this time to reach out to the President of China and to offer that if he is to form the Canadian government, that we will chart a path forward, he would chart a path forward to ensure that these tariffs are not in place. This is the most urgent and pressing issue to the Canadian economy and to the Western Canadian economy is 100 per cent tariffs on canola oil and canola meal. There will be jobs that will be lost by the time the Prime Minister comes out the other end of that election campaign.”

Moe said if Carney did not reach out to the Chinese government, “and we do see job loss in the canola crush industry and farm gate price dropping for Canadian canola producers, that will be the legacy of the Liberal Party.” He said

As for the country’s response to tariffs from the USA and China, Moe quoted former prime minister Jean Chrétien whi said you ‘can’t be smart and angry at the same time.’

“We as Canadians, and certainly in Saskatchewan, need to be very, very smart in our approach to how we’re dealing with the United States of America and how we’re dealing with the government of China. And those approaches will be different and need to be different, understanding the different relationships that we have with those two countries.”

Budget also looms

Moe’s appearance at Canada’s Farm Show took place one day in advance of the provincial budget, which is scheduled to be presented Wednesday afternoon by Finance Minister Jim Reiter. 

There has been plenty of talk about whether the budget would have relief measures to address the impact of the tariffs. When Moe was asked if any were included, he pointed to the province’s export value as having risen from $17 billion to $50 billion in the years they formed government. 

“You aren’t going to buy your way out of the challenges that we have seen.”

Moe said they needed to “look at things a little differently —- how do we utilize the strength of the Saskatchewan economy to actually support one another?” He hinted there would be announcements and examples of this within “the next couple of hours.”

Not long after at around 10:30 a.m., the government did make an announcement at Evraz Steel that the province’s Crown corporations would be buying Saskatchewan steel to support local jobs. 

Crown Investments Corporation Minister Jeremy Harrison said in a statement that by prioritizing purchasing of local steel for SaskPower and SaskEnergy infrastructure projects, “we are helping to keep over 400 hardworking Saskatchewan people on the job right here in Regina.”

Moe also commented on the talk about whether there would be a contingency in the Saskatchewan budget put in place. Moe pointed out that any province that has put in place a contingency used deficit financing.

He added that whether there was a contingency or not, “it doesn’t in any way say that or indicate that you aren’t going to in some ways support Canadian or Saskatchewan workers. We most certainly will be there if required, if this is drawn out in any way that we can. And working alongside whoever our federal government is as well.”

Beck responds

Opposition Leader Carla Beck was also at the Farm Show Tuesday morning along with several other NDP MLAs. Beck also shared the concerns about the Chinese tariff on canola. 

“Canola is such an important crop when it comes to this province. You know, this is a must-do for this government and for the federal government.”

On Moe’s calls for the federal government to do something about China tariffs, Beck reminded reporters that “this didn’t just happen. These tariffs were threatened back last August.

“I would ask, where has the Premier been making that case to Ottawa before now? This is not about, as I said, picking a fight. This is about getting to the table and making sure that those who are negotiating or talking with the Chinese understand what this will mean to producers here in this province, not just producers…this should have been something that was front of mind. This should have been something that the Premier was dealing with before today.

Beck also pointed to the importance of having a contingency included in the provincial budget to deal with tariff job losses.

“Budgets should reflect the reality of the people that live in this province,” said Beck. “If we don’t see some contingency in that budget, I think the government will have missed the moment. Obviously, I can have empathy with the uncertainty, but there has to be some contingency. There has to be some ability to be able to protect those who are going to be devastated if we see these tariffs come in on the second, those who have already been impacted already because of all of the uncertainty.”

Prime Minister Mark Carney says he expects the government's ethics commissioner will recommend he set up a screen around his previous business dealings to avoid any potential conflicts of interest.

The new Stínesten gallery opens this summer, offering more opportunities for local and Indigenous artists to exhibit their work in the community. 

Stínesten means “cedar root” in Secwepemctsín and it was chosen to showcase the ecological and cultural significance of cedar roots in the Secwépemc culture. The roots create a strong foundation which holds the land together, a metaphor for the gallery, which seeks to nurture Indigenous artistic growth while supporting the community ties.

Stínesten gallery and the Indigenous Resurgence Project

The gallery is supported by the Indigenous Resurgence Project, a Kamloops-based Indigenous arts collective focused on providing resources and a platform to Indigenous artists in Interior B.C.

Shay Paul, an Indigenous artist located in Kamloops (Tkʼemlúps), is the director of the Indigenous Resurgence Project and founder of the Stínesten gallery. Creating an accessible space for local and Indigenous artists, whether new or established, to showcase their work was a top priority in launching the new gallery, Paul says. 

“One of the largest issues in the Kamloops area that I think many arts professionals can relate to is that there is a lack of affordable, accessible spaces and venues.”

While space and funding is lacking, as a budding artist, Paul found organizations willing to help. 

As an artist getting established in Kamloops in 2018,  Kamloops United Church (KUC) donated its space for artist events, and Paul hosted pop-up events there. Throughout the years KUC and Paul have worked together to put on events related to the arts and culture, and that partnership has helped make the Stínesten Gallery a reality.

Last year, Paul reached out to KUC’s administrative manager Florence Ballard and asked her for the opportunity to rent a space at the downtown location to start the gallery. After a while Ballard offered Paul a secondary space on the Northshore at 140 Laburnum St., which will operate as the collective art gallery.  

“At this very moment in time, we’re still in the process of figuring out what that looks like,” Paul says. 

Born from Paul’s personal experience of growing up in Kamloops with a lack of resources and support for artists, the gallery will offer a space for workshops as well as a location for new and established artists to showcase their work.

It will also be a place to build community and connections, something Paul lacked as a blooming artist.  

“It’s not that those resources or opportunities didn’t exist per say, but rather that I was in the wrong circles or I wasn’t talking to the right people,” Paul says. 

At the time, Paul felt if she wanted to be an artist she would have to move somewhere else, but  she put on an art show focusing on reconciliation during senior year of high school, where she connected with other artists. Here she saw the vital need for networking and connection among local arts.  

“They were sharing with me that they also felt disconnected, that they also didn’t know who to talk to.”

A lack of accessible spaces, arts funding in Kamloops

Tanya Nielsen is the executive director of the Kamloops Arts Council (KAC) which is a non-profit organization that focuses on the development and enhancement of the arts in Kamloops. The KAC supports all artists and organizations, along with hosting low-to-no-cost arts programs and workshops.  

Nielsen also sees a lack of art gallery spaces in Kamloops. 

“We have the Kamloops Art Gallery, but what that does is it brings a lot of artists to the region. It does not so much show [local] artists. They do have the occasional show by a local artist or artist organization or group but it’s more along the professional level of arts.”

For artists who are just starting out there are not many places to exhibit their work Nielsen says. The KAC has an application process and artists can book its space based on the works presented.

“We prioritize anyone who has not shown [their work] in the last two years. We are booked to the end of 2026 right now. Every time we run submissions we get 30 or 40 of them,” Nielsen says.

The demand for spaces to showcase art is there, and the Stínesten gallery aims to help fill the gaps.

“It’s really important to have this kind of space because there aren’t many spaces that are non-commercial art galleries…and when you’re starting out, you need to start somewhere,” Nielsen says.

According to Nielsen there is also a lack of funding for the arts, not only in Kamloops but throughout the province. 

“How do we make sure that these organizations don’t disappear or get lost because we don’t have the financial support? Right now, we’re all trying to figure out how to stay alive and how to keep going.” 

This lack of resources has caused some other art spaces to close in the Lower Mainland, and limits what artists can do with their work. But supporting local artists will allow them to continue their work and promote the art scene in Kamloops. 

“Kamloops is known as being the tournament capital, so there’s a lot of focus on sports and it’s great that people want to be physically healthy, but art helps us keep our minds healthy through what we see, what we do, but also being able to create that keeps us young,” Nielsen says.

What is different about Stínesten gallery

While the gallery’s priority is to showcase local Indigenous artists, there will be opportunities for other artists who are not local to put on solo exhibitions.

“Whether that is a themed exhibition or a showcase of their portfolio work, it is meant to be as open to beginners or as challenging to more established artists as they decide they want their show to be,” Paul says.

Paul will work with contributing solo artists as a mentor, and eventually the goal will be also to include group exhibitions which explore different themes and topics connected to the artists’ cultural, geographic or familial backgrounds. 

Once the gallery opens it will have more 2D pieces, or pieces that can be displayed on the walls considering the space of the gallery. 

“It’s our goal to be able to work with artists to bring in whatever their medium is,” Paul says. 

Paul is always looking for opportunities to partner with organizations focused in the arts and cultures that are interested in working with artists. 

For more information or to connect with Paul regarding the gallery, you can email her at [email protected]

The post ‘They were sharing with me that they also felt disconnected’: upcoming Stínesten gallery gives local and Indigenous artists a place to grow appeared first on The Wren.