Melissa Louie, Ga’axsta’las, is a Citizen of the Tla’amin Nation (Coast Salish) and is also of Syilx ancestry with direct family ties to the Penticton Indian Band. Her strong sense of identify informs her approach to the legal profession.

She was called to the bar in 2008 and has dedicated her career to seeking transformative change for First Nations communities. Melissa’s practice is focused on Aboriginal rights and title. Over the course of her legal practice, Melissa has developed broad and practical experience in representing clients engaged in the negotiation and implementation of treaties, agreements, and other constructive arrangements and has direct experience in nation-building. Melissa also provides legal and strategic advice on a wide range of Aboriginal rights and title issues, including resource development activities. 

Melissa respects and holds space for cultural teachings, approaches, and practices, and seeks to create opportunities to uphold and work within Indigenous legal orders. She has experience in supporting the development of Indigenous legal frameworks, as well as in drafting of other forms of laws, regulations, and policies.

In addition to this important work, Melissa has gained relevant experience working at the international level by supporting the North American Representative to the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (an advisory body to the UN Economic and Social Council). In that capacity, she worked to advance Indigenous rights through various UN mechanisms.

Professional Memberships:

• Law Society of British Columbia

Contact:

• ✉️ melissa [at] nogala [dot] ca

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