{"id":109992,"date":"2026-10-27T09:03:31","date_gmt":"2026-10-27T13:03:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/theturtleislandnews.com\/?p=109992"},"modified":"2026-10-27T09:03:31","modified_gmt":"2026-10-27T13:03:31","slug":"fort-simpson-dene-woman-advocates-for-more-political-matriarchs-indigenous-success","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theturtleislandnews.com\/index.php\/2026\/10\/27\/fort-simpson-dene-woman-advocates-for-more-political-matriarchs-indigenous-success\/","title":{"rendered":"Fort Simpson Dene woman advocates for more political matriarchs, Indigenous success"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>By Kody Ferron, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Yellowknifer After this year\u2019s 56th Dene National Assembly, one Fort Simpson resident had some harsh words for leadership, including how regretful she was that she couldn\u2019t attend, and sees a need for more women at the decision-making table. \u201cI&#8217;m just so disheartened that there is no money to bring people who are members-at-large and are not directly involved in the regional or local Indigenous governance systems,\u201d said Cheryl Cli, regarding the assembly, held at the Chief Lamalice Centre on the K\u2019atl\u2019odeeche First Nation from Sept. 29-Oct. 1. \u201cIf you&#8217;re not a chief or a councillor or an Elder, then you don&#8217;t get to go.\u201d If she had been there, she would have had some questions for the current leadership. \u201cI would love to&#8230; <\/p>\n<div class=\"pmpro\">\n<div class=\"pmpro_card pmpro_content_message\">\n<div class=\"pmpro_card_content\">This content is for Yearly Subscription, Yearly Subscription &#8211; Corporate, Print Subscription Only, Canada Print and Online, and USA Print and Online members only.<br \/><a href=\"http:\/\/theturtleislandnews.com\/wp-login.php?action=register\">Register<\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"pmpro_card_actions pmpro_font-medium\">Already a member? <a href=\"https:\/\/theturtleislandnews.com\/wp-login.php?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Ftheturtleislandnews.com%2Findex.php%2F2026%2F10%2F27%2Ffort-simpson-dene-woman-advocates-for-more-political-matriarchs-indigenous-success%2F\">Log in here<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By Kody Ferron, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Yellowknifer After this year\u2019s 56th Dene National Assembly, one Fort Simpson resident had some harsh words for leadership, including how regretful she was that she couldn\u2019t attend, and sees a need for more women at the decision-making table. \u201cI&#8217;m just so disheartened that there is no money to bring people who are members-at-large and are not directly involved in the regional or local Indigenous governance systems,\u201d said Cheryl Cli, regarding the assembly, held at the Chief Lamalice Centre on the K\u2019atl\u2019odeeche First Nation from Sept. 29-Oct. 1. \u201cIf you&#8217;re not a chief or a councillor or an Elder, then you don&#8217;t get to go.\u201d If she had been there, she would have had some questions for the current leadership. \u201cI would love to... <\/p>\n<div class=\"pmpro\"><div class=\"pmpro_card pmpro_content_message\"><div class=\"pmpro_card_content\">This content is for Yearly Subscription, Yearly Subscription - Corporate, Print Subscription Only, Canada Print and Online, and USA Print and Online members only.<br \/><a href=\"http:\/\/theturtleislandnews.com\/wp-login.php?action=register\">Register<\/a><\/div><div class=\"pmpro_card_actions pmpro_font-medium\">Already a member? <a href=\"https:\/\/theturtleislandnews.com\/wp-login.php?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Ftheturtleislandnews.com%2Findex.php%2F2026%2F10%2F27%2Ffort-simpson-dene-woman-advocates-for-more-political-matriarchs-indigenous-success%2F\">Log in here<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"author":101363,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pmpro_default_level":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[8,13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-109992","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-national-news","category-ticker","pmpro-level-required","pmpro-level-3","pmpro-level-2","pmpro-level-5","pmpro-level-4","pmpro-level-6","pmpro-level-7","pmpro-level-8","pmpro-no-access"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.7 - 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