Melanie Parsons is the artist and owner behind Savage Rose Designs. She is a proud Cree Métis woman born and based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada—also known as Mohkinstsis, the traditional lands of the Blackfoot Confederacy. Her mother is a member of the Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation in Treaty 6 Territory, with family roots in Île-à-la-Crosse, Saskatchewan, while her father was born in Ontario, Canada and has ancestral ties to England.

Founded in 2010, Savage Rose Designs reflects Melanie’s deep connection to art, culture, and community. Though self-taught, she comes from a long lineage of Cree artisans and has spent years refining her craft with care and intention. She finds joy in the quiet dedication of making, in sharing knowledge, and in learning alongside other Indigenous artists. Through her work, Melanie honours her heritage and actively promotes Indigenous culture, creativity, and traditional practices.

The name Savage Rose is a tribute to two remarkable women in her life: her late grandmother, Elizabeth “Savage” Ahenakew, and her mother, Sandra Rose Belanger. While the word “savage” has historically been used in harmful ways toward Indigenous Peoples, for Melanie it carries a deeply personal meaning—one rooted in love, strength, resilience, and teachings passed down through generations. It was a childhood nickname given to her grandmother by her own father, celebrating her free spirit and vibrant nature. Today, the name stands as a reclamation and a celebration of Indigenous beauty, courage, and enduring creativity.