“Monique is such a beautiful bundle of joyful energy. She weaves personal stories with inspiration and knowledge. You leave her talk feeling transformed.” — Wabano Centre for Aboriginal Health, 2025
“Monique is such an incredibly grounding and powerful speaker. After a full day of workshops and networking, Monique’s words and wisdom were exactly what our audience needed to end the day feeling inspired and empowered. We are so grateful to have had Monique join us at the Every Child, Every Day conference.” — BGC Okanagan, 2025
“We’ve had so much feedback from folks saying how much they appreciate your warmth and wisdom, and that it was such a good way to start their learning at the conference.” — British Columbia Library Association, 2025
“Monique is such a gentle, kind, and caring presenter. This work takes a lot of heart, and her’s radiates through.” — British Columbia Library Association, 2025
“Thank you Monique! You always share your teachings in such a calm, kind and inclusive manner, and I appreciate you.” — British Columbia Library Association, 2025
“I am so grateful for the time and wisdom you shared with the students at Oak Park and River Forest High School this morning. I know I was certainly moved and inspired by what you shared, and I know the students will carry your words with them as well.” — Oak Park and River Forest High School, 2025
“Monique did a wonderful job connecting with the students. Starting the talk with a video from nature was a powerful reminder to slow down and regulate one’s nervous system. We loved hearing about her writing process.” — Pingree School, 2025
“It was a joy to host Monique for a campus visit. She connected well with our students and provided valuable insight into her writing process.” — Pingree School, 2025
“Monique’s simple but powerful message that love is medicine lives in her person, not simply on the page.” — St. Joseph’s Indian School, 2024
“Every moment with Monique was a highlight. She brought her full self every step of the way. Whether speaking about her work as an author, brainstorming indigenous plantings for our campus, sharing about “Braiding Sweetgrass for Young Adults” in the home or classroom, consulting with our Truth and Healing staff, reading to an over-active group of third graders, or addressing the sensitive topic of boarding school history, Monique gave 150%.” — St. Joseph’s Indian School, 2024
“Monique is such a gift. Her words, experiences and heart are shared so authentically allowing her message to land with all. Her message is so needed not just for educators, but for parents, children and anyone who wants to grow personally and professionally.” — TIE-BC (Teachers of Inclusion BC), 2024
“I have had the honour of witnessing many of Monique Gray Smith’s presentations over the years and am always so inspired by her profound teachings. She is a knowledgeable speaker, incredible author and an absolute pleasure to work with and learn from. I would highly recommend Monique for any event!” — Family Support Institute of BC, 2024
“Monique has a beautiful way of developing student understanding in an age-appropriate manner. She helped students understand the past and the atrocities committed, but also highlighted Indigenous resilience, strength and courage, and provided hope for the future and inspiration for students to take action to do better. We were so moved by her stories!” — Upper Canada District School Board, 2024
“I had the privilege of attending a session led by Monique Gray Smith on Truth and Reconciliation, and I must say it was truly inspiring. Monique’s words resonated deeply with our students, sparking important conversations about empathy, understanding, and the power of reconciliation. Her ability to connect with the audience on such a profound level is a testament to her passion and dedication to this crucial topic. Monique Gray Smith’s message is not only impactful but also essential in fostering a more inclusive and compassionate society. I highly recommend her as a speaker for any event focused on Truth and Reconciliation.” — Eastern Townships School Board, 2024
“Attending Monique Gray Smith’s session at the teachers’ convention was an incredibly enriching experience. Monique’s passion for storytelling and her dedication to fostering inclusivity and empathy in educational settings truly shone through in her presentation. As an author and speaker, Monique possesses a unique ability to captivate her audience with her heartfelt narratives and profound insights. Her stories not only entertain but also educate, offering valuable lessons on cultural diversity, reconciliation, indigenous ways of knowing and the importance of building connections within our communities. I left Monique’s session feeling inspired and equipped with practical strategies to create more inclusive and compassionate learning environments for my students. I highly recommend Monique Gray Smith as a speaker and author for any educational event seeking to promote empathy, diversity, and positive social change.” — Mighty Peace Teachers’ Convention Association, 2024
“Monique Gray Smith is an exceptional and inspiring speaker. She is a gifted storyteller with a message that is inspiring and uplifting with just the right blend of humor. She fully engaged each of our audiences, from middle school students to educators to the general public. I highly recommend Monique for any speaking engagement.” — Deborah Rinio, Alaska Library Association, 2023
“I don’t even know where to begin. I had high expectations for this, simply based on what I’d read of Monique’s work and how important I felt what I thought her message would be was for our campus. She exceeded my hopes in every way – she was a kind and engaged guest; her presence with students, faculty, staff, and community members was very centered and intentional; and the way she wove her own story, her writing, her community, and her critical wisdom into the presentation was exceptionally effective at drawing young adults and college students into deep reflection on their own wellbeing and how that relates to the healing of and reconciliation with First Nations peoples (and others). While I was off on vacation the next day, my student leaders’ weekly meeting apparently was mostly “how can we live into what we heard from Monique last night?” I can’t wait to see what they do.” — Puget Sound, 2022
“Monique was wonderful: personable, passionate, well-organized and truly engaging. I particularly admired how Monique paid so much attention to our local campus events and tied them into her talk about her work. She clearly thought about our audience and created an engaging talk that wasn’t canned or rote; rather it was personal and unique to our particular event. Monique is a genuine and emotional speaker, and that really came through, even in Zoom! Her talk was interesting and the visuals she presented added depth and value to the content of it. I and all who attended felt grateful for the opportunity to spend time with Monique.” — Ursinus College, 2022
“Thank you for much for the elegant talk so full of authenticity and story.” —
Naomi Krogman, Dean of SFU Environmental Studies
“Thank you Monique for your beautiful insights and tender message of hope and compassion. I regret that I was not able to see you speak in person, but the power of your message was felt even through digital space.” —
Simon Fraser University Phd student
