Walking in Two Worlds: Melanie Assiniwe’s Journey to the FCPA

July 4, 2025

Becoming a Fellow is a journey that is as unique as the passions and experiences of each distinguished CPA recognized with this highest distinction of the profession.

For Melanie Assiniwe, FCPA, FCA, Director of Capacity Management at the First Nations Financial Management Board, the path to becoming an FCPA meant walking in two worlds.

Her story is proof that it is never too late to follow your passion, advocate for your community and make an impact. 
Melanie was inspired to pursue the designation during a visit to Indigenous Services Canada, where she was struck by the absence of Indigenous representation. “I didn’t see people who looked like me in the finance department,” she recalls. “Yet these were the people making important decisions that affected Indigenous communities.”

That moment sparked a question that would shape her future: What would it take to sit at that table and bring Indigenous voice and perspective to those important decisions?

When researching the various path that could lead her to that goal, Indigenous Services Canada advised her to pursue her designation.  After completing her diploma in Business Administration and earning her Bachelor of Commerce, while raising four children, she pursued the designation.
“It wasn’t easy,” she says. “There were nights I stayed up doing homework after putting my kids to bed. Mornings I didn’t want to get up. But I just kept going. Even when I stumbled, I didn’t let failure stop me.”

“I wanted to prove to my kids that it doesn’t matter what obstacles are in your way. You can do anything you put your mind to.”

Guiding Melanie through her career were lessons taught by the elders in her community – primarily drawing from the Seven Grandfather teachings of the Anishinaabe culture, which includes love, respect, bravery, honesty, wisdom, humility and truth.

Melanie didn’t learn about respect by being told about it - she lived it: “You don’t say, ‘I’m teaching you respect today.’ You model it. If my great-grandmother needed firewood chopped, you did it. If there were dishes in the sink, you cleaned them. That’s how I learned respect.”

These values would continue to inform and inspire her approach to leadership and governance. From serving as a board member of a not-for-profit housing corporation to guiding financial policy for Indigenous organizations, Melanie employs the ‘Two-Eyed Seeing’ approach: “It’s the idea where you can unite Indigenous values and Western frameworks together and integrate them into something new.”

“For me, a loan isn’t just a line item on a balance sheet. It’s a responsibility to future generations,” she explains. “It’s not just about short-term results; it’s about long-term stewardship. Sometimes the people making decisions about First Nations communities have never set foot in one, and that’s why they’re asking me for input. They need to understand what these policies mean for First Nations communities.”

Melanie's lived experience bridges a critical gap between finance stewardship and the voice of Indigenous communities. She has become a trusted leader, helping to shape strategies that honour both accountability and tradition, and acting as a source of inspiration for future generations of CPAs in her communities.

“We need more Indigenous people in accounting and finance,” she says. “Especially working within First Nations finance departments. Because strong financial systems mean communities can make informed decisions for themselves.”
Whether it’s preparing nations for economic opportunities or managing funds with the care of a government body, Melanie sees finance as a tool for sovereignty and sustainability.

“It’s not just about driving big projects forward. It’s about getting nations ready to welcome opportunities, generate wealth and make decisions that serve future generations.”

In 2024, Melanie was named an FCPA, the profession’s highest honour. For her, it was more than a title. It was a recognition that gave her something she didn’t expect: a profound sense of belonging.

“When I saw my nomination, I thought, okay - I really did do what I set out to do,” she says. “I’ve always worked to help my people, but being named a Fellow helped me realize I deserve to be here, among all these great, smart professionals. I’ve contributed, especially when it comes to lifting Indigenous voices in finance. It helped me feel like I truly belonged.”

Melanie’s message for aspiring Indigenous professionals is simple but powerful:

“Don’t give up. Break it into smaller steps. Keep putting one foot in front of the other. Even if you don’t see people who look like you where you want to go, that doesn’t mean you don’t belong there.”