Melina Laboucan-Massimo

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, SACRED EARTH

Melina Laboucan-Massimo has worked on climate justice, Indigenous sovereignty and women’s rights for over 20 years. Melina is Lubicon Cree from Northern Alberta, Canada. She is the Founder and Executive Director of Sacred Earth and co-Founder of Indigenous Climate Action. Melina was the inaugural Fellow at the David Suzuki Foundation where her research focused on Climate Change, Indigenous Knowledge and Renewable Energy. She is the Host of a TV series called Power to the People which profiles renewable energy in Indigenous communities.

Melina holds a Master’s degree in Indigenous Governance at the University of Victoria with a focus on energy transition. As a part of her master’s thesis Melina implemented a 20.8 kW solar project in her home community of Little Buffalo which powers the health centre in the heart of the tar sands. Melina has studied, campaigned and worked in Brazil, Australia, Mexico, Canada and across Europe focusing on resource extraction, climate change impacts, media literacy and Indigenous rights & responsibilities.

Prior to Melina’s climate justice work, her focus was on media literacy in print and film making at the Indigenous Media Arts Group and Redwire Native Media Society. Her extensive advocacy is deeply rooted in her first-hand experience as an Indigenous woman being on a blockade in her community’s struggle to protect their homelands at 7 years old. Melina also works on the issue of Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women in Canada after the suspicious death of her sister Bella whose case still remains unsolved. Melina currently serves on the boards of NDN Collective, David Suzuki Foundation as well as the Executive Steering Committee of Indigenous Clean Energy Social Enterprise.