Frances Sinclair-Kaspick is a First Nations woman, community advocate, and leader whose lived experience with disability, poverty, and intergenerational trauma has inspired a lifelong commitment to empowering others. Rather than allowing barriers to define her, she has transformed adversity into a driving force for personal achievement and community action.
A member of the Pequis First Nation in Manitoba, Frances has built a diverse career as a public servant, motivational speaker, writer, performer, artist, and advocate for Indigenous people living with disabilities. Through her work, she has consistently promoted inclusion, accessibility, education, and employment opportunities for marginalized communities.
In 1992, Frances partnered with the Centre for Aboriginal Human Resource Development Inc. (CAHRD) to establish the Aboriginal Disabled Self-Help Group Inc. (ADSHG). The organization’s mission is to support Indigenous people with disabilities in accessing education, training, and meaningful employment opportunities. Under her leadership, ADSHG has also developed resources and initiatives designed to foster self-sufficiency and community engagement.
As a motivational speaker, Frances has shared her message of resilience, healing, and inclusion with audiences across Manitoba. In October 2015, she served as the keynote speaker at a three-day employment conference focused on disability inclusion, addressing human resource professionals, administrators, and managers on the importance of creating accessible and equitable workplaces.
Frances is also passionate about the arts as a vehicle for social change. Through playwriting, acting, and performance, she has worked to raise awareness about education, employment, and opportunities for Indigenous people with disabilities. In September 2015, she joined the Board of the Urban Indigenous Theatre Company, helping to support programs that provide low-income Indigenous youth with opportunities to learn, perform, and participate in theatre. The organization is dedicated to securing resources and funding that enable community-based productions and creative development.
Breakout Session:
Opening the Door and Paving the Way: Supporting Indigenous Persons with Disabilities Through Education, Employment,
Inclusion, and Community
Join Frances Sinclair-Kaspick as she shares her personal journey as an Indigenous person with a disability, reflecting on the people, opportunities, and determination that helped shape her path. Through stories of education, employment, advocacy, and community, Frances will explore the barriers many Indigenous people with disabilities continue to face and the importance of creating inclusive pathways to success.
This session will highlight the transformative power of education, meaningful employment, cultural connection, and early supports for children and youth. Participants will gain insight into the unique challenges experienced by Indigenous families in northern and remote communities, while also hearing a message of resilience, hope, and leadership rooted in lived experience. Frances challenges us all to open doors, remove barriers, and create opportunities where every person can thrive
