Melody is a settler of Japanese and Swiss-German Mennonite descent, Assistant Professor in the Health Science Department at Wilfrid Laurier University, and Canada Research Chair T2 in Community-Driven Knowledge Mobilization and Pathways to Wellness. She co-leads a variety of First Nations community-driven health and wellness research projects and is involved in national and regional working groups and advisory teams on Indigenous-focused projects related to fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, Indigenous evaluation frameworks and principles. Melody and Annie Picard have worked together on multiple initiatives over the last 10+ years.

Annie is the Innu Round Table (IRT) Secretariat Health Coordinator in Labrador, Canada. She lives and works in Sheshatshiu Innu First Nation and speaks Innu-aimun, English, and some French. In her role as the Health Coordinator for the IRT secretariat, she is responsible for supporting health planning in both Sheshatshiu Innu First Nations and Mushuau Innu First Nations; working with multiple levels of local, regional, provincial, and federal governments; collaborating and overseeing health projects and initiatives (including research); and applying for funds to support priorities for the Innu.