About Us

Our Founder

Melissa Lundy has spent over 20 years making the world a better place. As an intergenerational Survivor of residential schools, Melissa believes in the power of creation and healing.

Melissa Lundy

(Indigenous/Métis/She/Her)

Founder & President

Melissa, a proud Citizen of the Métis Nation of Alberta, hails from Calgary, Alberta. With 15 years of expertise in Indigenous community engagement and management systems, she excels in fostering meaningful relationships that make people feel valued, included, and respected. Guided by the belief that “you cannot do anything alone,” Melissa is passionate about the power of teamwork to achieve extraordinary results.

Her work has been recognized with multiple accolades, including the Rick Hansen Relay Medal in 2012 and the Inspired Albertan honour by CTV News in 2023. She has also been nominated for prestigious awards, including the Young Women in Energy Award (2018), Avenue Magazine’s Top 40 Under 40 (2023), the Calgary Award, Native Education College’s Community Service Award, and the CCIB Excellence in Indigenous Relations Awards (2025).

Besides her professional work, Melissa enjoys dancing, making bannock, playing fetch with her dog, and planning her next renovation project in Burton, B.C. She is especially grateful for the unwavering support of her husband, Jason Zaal.

Board of Directors

We are an Indigenous-founded Registered Charity that leads with Indigenous ways of knowing, being, and doing. We recognize and acknowledge that we work better together as a unified team.

In the spirit of full transparency, we share that none of our Board Members participate in conversations or votes that create or could create a conflict of interest. The Tipi of Hope Foundation is 100% volunteer-led. Our Directors and Volunteers do not receive pay, commissions, or bonuses. They all donate their time as they believe in our mission.

Melissa Lundy

(Indigenous/Métis/She/Her)

– Founder & President –

Jodi-Lee Carrie Silliker-Nordquist

(non-Indigenous/She/Her)

– Vice President –

Erin Turnbull

(Indigenous/Métis/She/Her)

– Treasurer –

Karen Lundy

(Indigenous/Métis/She/Her)

– Secretary –

Danae Higgins

(non-Indigenous/She/They)

– Director –

Program Support

Indigenous Guidance Circle

We have formed an Indigenous Guidance Circle (the Circle) to continually preserve, protect, revitalize, and share wisdom from Indigenous Elders, Knowledge Keepers and Survivors of residential schools and the 60s scoop. The Circle is vital in preserving Indigenous Cultures. In addition, they provide their perspectives on how Tipi of Hope initiatives can make meaningful progress toward reconciliation and will help us strengthen our relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.

The overreaching goals of the Circle are:

Offer knowledge and wisdom to Indigenous and non-Indigenous Board Members and Volunteers.

Protect, revitalize, and share Indigenous oral knowledge and practices.

Advise Tipi of Hope in ongoing Programs and Projects.

The Circle will increase to include Métis and Inuit members. More to come!

Jeanne Chonkolay

(Indigenous/First Nations/She/Her)

Dene Tha’ First Nation

Elder and Survivor of Assumption (Hay
Lakes) Residential School

Phyllis Chonkolay

(Indigenous/First Nations/She/Her)

Dene Tha’ First Nation

Survivor of Assumption (Hay Lakes) Residential School

VOLUNTEERS

As a Registered Charity, our work is 100% led by volunteers. Our Board Members, Indigenous Guidance Circle and Volunteers all donate their time to advance reconciliation and our mission. Additionally, volunteers have led bottle drives and other initiatives to support our work.

Thank you to the following Volunteers for their time and energy: