Mononk Jules

Théâtre français de Toronto (TfT) is proud to present Mononk Jules, a one-man show from Illusions Fabuleuses productions playing from March 20 to 23, 2024 at the TfT studio located at 21 College Street, 6th floor. Performed by author, actor and puppeteer Jocelyn Sioui, this docu-theatre delves into the little-known story of Jules Sioui, an Indigenous hero as well as the artist’s great-uncle, whose fight for self-determination left its mark on Canadian History.

An emblematic figure in the History of Canada’s First Nations, Jules Sioui (1906-1990) was a pioneer in the fight for self-determination for Indigenous peoples. A member of the Wendat community, he left his mark on his era through his relentless campaigning against segregation and for the recognition of the rights of Indigenous communities. Founder of the Assembly of First Nations, Jules Sioui distinguished himself by his unwavering commitment to the fight for social justice, using civil disobedience as a means of pressure against assimilationist and discriminatory government policies.

His life was marked by several arrests as a result of his activism, but this never deterred him from continuing his fight. On several occasions, he even used hunger strikes to draw attention to the injustices suffered by indigenous peoples. His motto, “Believe or die”, testifies to his unshakeable determination in this struggle.

Jules Sioui’s career, while heroic, also has its tragic aspects, not least the posthumous neglect of his major contributions.

In Mononk Jules, Jocelyn Sioui seeks to remedy this injustice by rehabilitating the memory of his great-uncle and highlighting his legacy. Surrounded by screens, boxes, archives, models and puppets, the multi-talented artist delivers a masterful performance that sheds light on the life of a man who should never have been confined to the shadows of History.