Monique Sioui (April 7, 1951 – October 18, 1997) was an activist for the rights of indigenous women and children. She was the sister of writer and artist

Christine Sioui-Wawanoloath Christine Sioui-Wawanoloath (born 1952) is a First Nations writer and artist living in Quebec, Canada. The daughter of Augustin Sioui, Wendat, and Esther Wawanolett, Abenaki, she was born in Wendake. After the death of her father while she was st ...

. Sioui was the daughter of Augustin Sioui, Huron-Wendat, and Esther Wawanolett,

Abenaki The Abenaki (Abenaki: ''Wαpánahki'') are an Indigenous peoples of the Northeastern Woodlands of Canada and the United States. They are an Algonquian-speaking people and part of the Wabanaki Confederacy. The Eastern Abenaki language was predom ...

. She was a founding member of Quebec Native Women, serving as president in 1976. She dealt with issues such as discrimination against indigenous women under the

Indian Act The ''Indian Act'' (, long name ''An Act to amend and consolidate the laws respecting Indians'') is a Canadian act of Parliament that concerns registered Indians, their bands, and the system of Indian reserves. First passed in 1876 and still ...

and adoption of indigenous children by non-indigenous foster parents. In 1980, she went to the

Netherlands ) , anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau") , image_map = , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands , established_title = Before independence , established_date = Spanish Netherl ...

to attend the Russell Tribunal where she identified discriminatory aspects of the Indian Act. She went on to work against

domestic violence Domestic violence (also known as domestic abuse or family violence) is violence or other abuse that occurs in a domestic setting, such as in a marriage or cohabitation. ''Domestic violence'' is often used as a synonym for ''intimate partner ...

and spousal abuse in the

Abitibi-Témiscamingue Abitibi-Témiscamingue () is an List of regions of Quebec, administrative region located in western Québec, Canada, along the border with Ontario. It became part of the province in 1898. It has a land area of and its population was 146,717 peo ...

region. In 1998, she was awarded the Prix Droits et Libertés posthumously by the Quebec

Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse The ''Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse'' (CDPDJ; English: "Human Rights and Youth Rights Commission") is a government agency created by the Quebec Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms in 1975. The current name ...

. Sioui was married to Richard Kistabish.

References

1951 births 1997 deaths Abenaki people Wyandot people First Nations activists First Nations women {{Authority control