Episode 1 | Economic Hostages with Melina Laboucan-Massimo

In this episode, we hear from Melina Laboucan-Massimo, environmental activist and host of APTN’s, Power to the People, . Melina will share her experience growing up in northern Alberta, discussing the barriers communities face in the energy and environmental sector, and help us to understand the correlation between MMIWG2S+ and the fossil fuel industry. To close this heavy discussion, Melina shares her advice on healing justice and a pathway forward. 

Melina Laboucan-Massimo is Lubicon Cree from Northern Alberta. She has worked on social, environmental and climate justice issues for the past 20 years. Melina is the Just Transition Director at Indigenous Climate Action, the Founder of Sacred Earth Solar and a Fellow at the David Suzuki Foundation. She is also the Host of a new TV series called Power to the People which profiles renewable energy, food security and eco-housing projects in Indigenous communities across Canada.

Facing firsthand impacts of the Alberta tar sands in her traditional territory, Melina has been a vocal advocate for Indigenous rights and environmental justice. For over a decade, Melina worked as a Climate and Energy Campaigner with Greenpeace Canada and the Indigenous Environmental Network internationally. She has written for a variety of publications and produced short documentaries on the tar sands, climate change, water issues and Indigenous cultural revitalization. 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.

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 Seeding Sovereignty and NDN Collective as well as the executive steering committee of the Indigenous Clean Energy Social Enterprise.

You can follow Melina's journey through her socials, website, and catch Power to the People on APTN. All links to resources mentioned in the show can be found below:

Instagram: @Melina_Miyowapan Twitter: @Melina_mlmSacred Earth SolarIndigenous Climate Action

Articles & ResourcesCBC: Bella Marie Laboucan-McLeanAPTN: It felt like there was no end to the screaming sadness: one sister’s take on #mmiwGrist: Making the connections on tar-sands pollution, racism, and sexismAPB Speakers: On the Pervasiveness of Western Culture - Melina Laboucan-MassimoMMIWG2S+ SupportsNational Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and GirlsMMIWG2S+ Calls for Justice ______________________________________________________________