Northern News Services

Yellowknife (July 19/02) - Watch out, the Sahtu Women Warriors are coming to town.

Cece Hodgson-McCauley, News/North columnist and former chief of the Inuvik Dene band, along with 1,200 women warrior dolls, will be attending Folk on the Rocks this weekend.

Dressed in Viking attire, the dolls will sell for $25 each. Proceeds will go towards extending the Mackenzie Highway past Wrigley, through the Sahtu region, and onward to Inuvik.

So far, the Women Warriors have raised $4,000.

"I want every senator and MP to have a woman warrior doll on their desk," says Hodgson-McCauley, who is no stranger in Ottawa.

"I think once the government sees that we mean business, and we're starting to raise money and do things, they'll say 'oh my goodness.'"

The Women Warriors formed in January 2000. Their principle mission, says Hodgson-McCauley, is to get the federal government's attention, and acknowledge that it's high time a road through Sahtu be built as originally planned in 1972.

"I'm going to use the opposition this time," says Hodgson-McCauley.

"I have their blessing. They say 'Cece, you're doing the right thing...' It's a fight to the death this time."

"I want the highway tomorrow, so I'm going to try and raise enough money to start sloshing this winter."

It will be Hodgson-McCauley's first trip to Folk on the Rocks.

The warrior dolls she plans to sell at the site were a long time coming, but she promises more are on the way.

"This company can make anything if you send them a picture," she said of the dolls' manufacturer.

"This one has black hair. The next bunch will have brown hair, red hair, gray hair... all ethnic groups."