Since 2018, Melissa has been the Director of Fisheries and Integrated Resources at the Atlantic Policy Congress of First Nations Chiefs Secretariat (APC) where she works closely with Atlantic First Nations communities and organizations on fisheries, environment, Indigenous Knowledgesystems, climate and energy. The APC Fisheries & Integrated resources department amplifies and advocates policy change, research, collaboration, capacity and funding across the region.APC is an Aboriginal Aquatic Resources and Oceans Management (AAROM) body, that works closely with other AAROMs across the Atlantic region to support coordination and collaboration.
Melissa participates in various federal and provincial committees on energy, mining, environment, climate change and is an active board member of both FORCE (2019 – present) and CLIMAtlantic (2024 – present). As of 2025, APC have received accreditation from the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization (NASCO) as an Indigenous Peoples’ Representative Institution (IPRI) official observer. The IPRI role of APC is to provide Indigenous perspectives and traditional knowledge into the science of Atlantic salmon.
With over 20 years in supporting First Nations rights in the Fisheries sector, Melissa is a strong advocate for Atlantic First Nations as she ensures that Indigenous knowledge systems, perspectives, and values are brought to the forefront of every conversation and are seen as a priority at the policy level.
Melissa Nevin is a member of Sipekne’katik First Nation and holds a master’s degree in Geography from St. Mary’s University.
Melissa can be reached at: melissa.nevin@apcfnc.ca