Melanie Mark
First First Nations woman to be elected to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, Founder of Remarkable First Nations Regenerative Industries & HLI HAYKWHL ẂII XSGAAK Consulting
HLI HAYKWHL ẂII XSGAAK, Melanie Mark is a bold and tenacious leader, advocate, and strategist. She has over 25 years' experience in the nonprofit sector, in government, as an elected official and as an entrepreneur- with a demonstrated track record advancing social, environmental, and economic justice through reconciliation.
Melanie is Nisga'a, Gitxsan, Cree and Ojibway and was the first First Nations woman to be elected to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia in 2016. She is also the inaugural First Nations woman to serve in BC’s Cabinet as the Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Training (2017- 2020) and later as the Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport (2020-2022). Melanie retired from politics in 2023 to focus on her daughters and her two businesses: Remarkable First Nations Regenerative Industries & HLI HAYKWHL ẂII XSGAAK Consulting. Adversity has shaped Melanie's advocacy, and she believes strongly in sharing how we can and must Paddle Together to implement the 94 Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.