Melanie was born on the land Tavanik in 1947. Her father was a hunter and carver, and her mother made clothing for people.

Melanie recalls, "I watched my mom tanning and cleaning sealskin, and I grew up helping people make their clothing. My mom fixed the igloo, and went hunting and fishing if my dad was gone hunting or on a trip for too long. For many years, there was little money, and my mom sewed for qallunaq to trade for tea or flour."

Now Melanie makes sealskin windpants, kamiks, mitts, parkas, amauti, and little amautik. She also carves buttons from ivory and caribou. She can make any clothing to order for different sized people.