Melody Lepine was raised in the community of Fort Chipewayn, Alberta, and is a member of the Mikisew Cree First Nation. Her family and community traditional teachings in environmental stewardship motivated her to obtain a bachelor of science in environmental conservation at the University of Alberta and pursue advanced studies on environmental management at Royal Roads University. For the past 18 years she has worked for the Mikisew Cree First Nation Government where she oversees and manages complex and challenging environmental, social, and cultural issues. She leads consultation on all matters pertaining to natural resource management within the Mikisew Cree’s traditional territory and has extensive experience in strategic planning, regulatory intervention, benefit agreements, Indigenous knowledge studies, land use planning, and community-based research and environmental monitoring programs.
Melody was one of the driving forces behind the establishment and recent expansion of the Kitaskino-Nuwenene Wildland Park, which is one of Alberta’s first Indigenous-led conservation areas as well as one of the largest new conservation areas created in decades. Kitaskino-Nuwenene embraces the Mikisew’s stewardship vision for their lands, waters, and iconic species such as woodland caribou and wood bison. Melody has also served as co-chair of the Alberta Oil Sands Advisory Group, as a member on the Alberta Indigenous Wisdom Advisory Panel, and as a board member on the Cumulative Environment Management Association.