The Southern Chiefs’ Organization (SCO) is pleased to share Open the Door, an Indigenous disABILITY music video co-produced and co-written by Frances Sinclair-Kaspick of Peguis First Nation.
Open the Door celebrates Indigenous people living with disABILITIES and shares a powerful message of inclusion, understanding, and opportunity.
Frances, who recently celebrated her 70th birthday, wrote the lyrics and helped bring the song and video to life through her vision and lived experience.
The music video invites viewers to open their minds and hearts, and to support greater access to education, employment, social connection, spiritual gatherings, and cultural ceremonies for Indigenous people with disABILITIES.
SCO recognizes Open the Door as an important artistic and advocacy piece that uplifts Indigenous disABILITY voices and calls for more inclusive communities.
Through music and storytelling, the video reflects resilience, strength, and the right for everyone to fully participate in community life.
Frances continues to use the arts as a tool for advocacy and empowerment, helping create space for Indigenous people with disABILITIES to be seen, heard, and included.
SCO is proud to support Frances’ work through our First Nations Disability Program.
We supported the premiere screening of Open the Doors by working alongside Frances and community members to help bring the event together. Prairie Copenace, SCO’s First Nations Disability Navigator, supported Frances in organizing and setting up the event.
Learn more about SCO’s First Nations Disability Program.
SCO recognizes Frances’ leadership, creativity, and dedication to building inclusive communities.
Born without hands and with small feet, she transitioned from using a wheelchair to walking with below-the-knee prosthetics as a child.
Her lived experience has shaped her lifelong commitment to advocacy, inclusion, and empowerment.
Frances is the founder of Red Rainbow Women of Abilities and the author of The Mountain Within, a memoir about overcoming barriers.
She is working on her second book and continues to speak across communities on Indigenous disABILITY issues.
In 2006, Frances founded the Aboriginal Disabled Self-Help Group. Through advocacy and the arts, she continues to amplify Indigenous disABILITY voices and promote equity and accessibility.
A proud First Nation Cree woman, advocate, and artist, Frances was honoured as an Elder at the 24th Annual Keeping the Fires Burning celebration for her lifelong contributions last summer.