“Open the Door” Indigenous disAbility Music Video by Frances Sinclair-Kaspick

Описание: The Indigenous disAbility music video is a culturally respectful advocacy tool designed to raise awareness, shift perceptions, and amplify Indigenous voices within the disAbility movement. It blends artistic expression with lived experience to reach Indigenous communities, families, service providers, and decision-makers.

This project is rooted in firsthand experience of growing up in the disAbility world and witnessing what is possible when individuals are properly supported. These experiences include success in education, employment, independent living, home ownership, family life, and aging with dignity.

Context: DisAbility and Colonization

Mainstream understandings of disAbility are largely shaped by European-origin systems that do not reflect Indigenous histories, cultures, or realities. For Indigenous peoples, disAbility cannot be separated from the impacts of colonization, including displacement, systemic exclusion, and
cultural erasure.

Indigenous individuals with cognitive impairments, non-verbal autism, and other health conditions have often been misunderstood or excluded from appropriate supports. As a result, Indigenous disAbility communities have remained severely underrepresented for decades, slowing progress at both community and national levels.

Vision for Change

The project emphasizes that Indigenous persons with disAbilities have vast potential when supported through culturally informed, individualized approaches. Key pathways to improved quality of life include:

• Education supported by professional guidance and individualized structure
• Community-informed data collection to address gaps and inequities
• Skill training aligned with meaningful employment opportunities
• Open-minded and inclusive hiring practices
• Accessible spiritual and cultural practices
• Specialized training for cultural conductors to support diverse needs
• Indoor, accessible spaces for ceremony and spiritual well-being

Community and Leadership

Meaningful change requires strong leadership, family commitment, and community collaboration. Indigenous-led programs are essential to advancing rights, inclusion, and long-term well-being. When communities work together, systems can shift toward respect, accessibility, and cultural safety.

Indigenous disAbility Month (IDAM)

Each November, Indigenous disAbility Month is recognized across Canada and internationally. IDAM celebrates and honors Indigenous persons with disAbilities while drawing attention to ongoing advocacy, representation, and systemic change. This music video contributes to that movement—serving as both a cultural expression and a call to action to build a more inclusive, respectful, and equitable future.

Video Producer & Music Co-Writer
Frances Sinclair-Kaspick

Director & Cinematographer
Jesse Green

Music Producer & Co-Writer
Chris Burke Gaffney

Vocalist
Kimberley Dawn

Camera Assistant
Matthew Edwards

Make up
Lisa Diane Rueckert

Cast
Shawna Joynt
Kayden Joynt
Margaret Roulette
Raymond Roulette
Thalia Roulette
Alexa Govereau
Larissa McKay
Lawson McKay
Lynx Gordon-Abraham
Dennis Kaspick
Strong Bear
Mason Sinclair
Maddox Sinclair
Maddison Sinclair
Dakota Wavey
Jimmy Wavey

Production Services Provided by
StrongFront.tv

Special thanks
Tina Keeper
Anish Healing Centre Inc.
Neeginan Education, Training and Employment Services Inc.
City of Winnipeg and Sergeant Tommy Prince Place

This project was funded by the Manitoba Arts Council.

© 2026 Red Rainbow Women of Abilities. All rights reserved.