Holly Mackenzie is a Dene from the Tlîchô Nation of the North Slave region of the Northwest Territories. Holly is an Intergovernmental Relations Analyst with the Department of Aboriginal Affairs and Intergovernmental Relations, Government of the Northwest Territories. Holly’s Fellowship paper examines the ways to develop and nurture Aboriginal women in leadership roles, and how to increase participation of women in all levels of decision making within Aboriginal governance. She also examines the barriers that exist for young women in taking on leadership roles as chiefs and in elected positions of governance.