about
Monique believes that Love is Medicine.
Monique Gray Smith is a proud mom of twins, an award-winning, best-selling author and sought after consultant.
In 2022, Monique adapted Robin Wall Kimmerer’s New York Times Best selling book, Braiding Sweetgrass for a new generation of readers. Braiding Sweetgrass for Young Adults was released in November 2023.
Monique has 9 books ranging for readers across the life span. Children’s books include My Heart Fills with Happiness, You Hold Me Up, When We Are Kind, Lucy and Lola and I Hope.
Young Adult and Adult books include Speaking our Truth: A Journey of Reconciliation, Tilly: A Story of Hope and Resilience.Monique’s novel, Tilly and the Crazy Eights was long listed for Canada Reads 2021.
Monique’s books are used to share wisdom, knowledge, hope and the important teaching that love is medicine.
Monique is Cree and Scottish and has been sober and involved in her healing journey for over 33 years. She is well known for her storytelling, spirit of generosity and focus on resilience.
What’s new?
The Next Chapter
To listen to my visit with Shelagh Rogers on The Next Chapter, please click here.
45 books that 'share stories and truths' from Indigenous creators who identify as women and/or two-spirit
Monique curated this list of fiction, nonfiction, poetry and children's books for The Next Chapter. To read the list and captions of each book, please click here.
Testimonials
Keynote Testimonials
Keynote: Provincial Library Conference
“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.”
Rina Hadziev, Executive Director, British Columbia Library Association
“Monique is such a gentle, kind, and caring presenter. This work takes a lot of heart, and her's radiates through.”
“Thank you Monique! You always share your teachings in such a calm, kind and inclusive manner, and I appreciate you.”
Online Learning Testimonials
“Thank you Monique for this experience! I cannot begin to tell you the profound impact you have had on my life journey both professionally and personally. You have definitely created a ripple effect in my life! Moving forward I have a deeper understanding of the Indigenous culture and hope to embed the learning I have done within my daily practices both at school and at home. With much admiration and appreciation! Wishing you the same joy in the days and years ahead that you shared with me during this course. Thank you.”
“Monique, I so appreciated you weaving in your personal stories and snippets from your books throughout each module. You managed to "humanize" the digital content. Not an easy task but well done!”
“I just want to say Hych-ka Siem for taking the time to put in this work your doing yourself, it has already helped me break barriers in having uncomfortable conversations with others and myself. You out did your self, and the way you have with words is moving enough to bring tears and pull heart strings. Having you join our teams meeting a few weeks back too has not left my mind, you are amazing.”
“Monique, I could listen to you share your stories and wisdom for a long time. I first heard you speak at an ECE conference in Toronto. Your keynote was so eye opening that I wanted to learn more about what you had to say. So I snuck into your workshop and that was when I started learning the truth. A few years after that I had the pleasure of hearing you speak again at the Canadian Association of Montessori Teachers conference at the Mohawk Institute. I love how you inspire me, how gentle you are with your approach with this very serious and sensitive subject. Chi-Migwetch for sharing your knowledge and your stories.”
“I really enjoyed the course and found it extremely helpful not only for my professional role but when working to build resiliency in my own children.”
“I really enjoyed this course. To be honest there is a lot of material here to digest and I think that will take much more time to fully digest but I am feeling fortunate to have had the opportunity to hear what Monique had to say and to take that and add it to what I have learned and what I will be learning in the future. Very thankful that you choose to do this course online! Thank you.”
“I love all the metaphors that were used--the North Star, the Umbrella of Resiliency, wrapping our youth in the 4 Blankets. It really helped me visualize the concepts. It was very beautiful. Monique has a warmth that is tangible through the screen.”