Jules Sioui – Huron, Wendake First Nation

During WWII Jules Sioui formed the Comité de Protection des Droits Indiens.

He mailed invitations to chiefs across Canada to attend a meeting in Ottawa at the Windsor Hotel on October 19th, 1943.

He also invited Prime Minister King, cabinet, and suggested they bring a stenographer.

The Indian Department considered Sioui an “agitator” a “revolutionist” and discouraged Chiefs from attending.

53 delegates attended, most well-known Aboriginal rights activists arrived and under pressure from the group and the media some high-level bureaucrats agreed to meet with them.

A picture of the eleven delegates, standing beside officials on the front steps of Parliament appeared in newspapers.

It was the first time since the signing of the treaties 50 years earlier that Chiefs met with high-level officials.

At a follow up meeting the next year 200 delegates attended.

Jules Sioui’s Comité de Protection des Droits Indiens built a model that would directly lead to the modern day Assembly of First Nations.