School BeauceSchool invites you to an immersive experience with Mélanie Paul, President of Gestion Mélanie Paul Inc. and President of Akua Naturu, on April 2–3, 2025, as part of the Émergence Program.

Mélanie Paul has been active in the business world for over 20 years.  With a bachelor’s degree in social work from Laval University, she officially made the leap into entrepreneurship in 2002 by joining the family business, where she held various positions.   She then took several courses in business administration and management at UQUAC. In 2013, she enrolled atSchool de Beauce (EEB). In 2015, she became the first Indigenous entrepreneur to graduate fromEEB. Ms. Paul has been involved in countless social and entrepreneurial initiatives, contributing in various ways over the past few years.  

In 2006, she was appointed by the Piekuakamiulnuatsh Takuhikan Council to analyze various social issues and propose a comprehensive community action plan that included strategies and priorities addressing social distress, particularly the issue of suicide.  

From 2005 to 2008, she served as vice president of the Ilnu Economic Development Corporation. 

From 2008 to 2013, she served as co-president of the Roberval Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

In 2015, Mélanie Paul became an ambassador for the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean region as part of the campaign Prospérité.Québec of the Quebec Employers' Council. Ms. Paul was appointed chair of the First Nations Roundtable by the Couillard government following the 2015 regional economic summit. In collaboration with various regional economic stakeholders, she will help develop a guide to best practices for place sustainable business place between communities and the regional business sector.

In May 2018, she won the Entrepreneur of the Year Award presented by the Conseil du Patronat du Québec.

In 2019, she was appointed to an expert committee tasked with preparing a report containing research findings and recommendations on the inclusion of Indigenous workers in Quebec businesses. 

In November 2020, she was recognized as a businesswoman changing the world in line with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals by Femmessor, which selected 100 women in Quebec.

In May 2022, she was recognized by Evol as one of Quebec’s 25 impact leaders as part of the “1001 Reasons to Make a Difference” campaign.

In October 2022, she became the first Indigenous woman to be named Honorary Colonel of the Canadian Forces Base Bagotville by the Minister of National Defense. RHaving established herself as an expert in recent years, Mélanie Paul is sought after as a speaker and trainer recognized for her knowledge and experience in entrepreneurial development for Indigenous women, the inclusion of Indigenous workers in Quebec businesses, and the creation of partnerships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities.  A proud mother of three children—Guillaume, 27, Aurélie, 21, and Mélina, 16—she aspires to pass on to them the values that guide her and have guided First Nations for millennia: solidarity, mutual aid, sharing, and respect for oneself, others, and nature.

The common thread running through all of this is the desire to change people’s perceptions. Mélanie Paul does not hesitate to identify herself as Indigenous to show that First Nations people are present and represented, that her community members can succeed in business and work in partnership with non-Indigenous people. She believes this demonstrates to everyone that being Indigenous is not a limitation; it is an IDENTITY.