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Leaders on the land

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Rhonda Apples helps with the Imbe program in Wekweeti last year.

The Imbe program, running from July 16 to Aug. 24, is now open for youth from Tlicho communities to register to participate – and they’ll have a chance to learn, reconnect with their culture and even lead.

In 2015, Rhonda Apples got the opportunity to step up to the plate.

Participating in the Imbe program in Behchoko last year are, from left in the back rom, Seth Sanspariel, Skyler Wellin, Darian Williah, Romeo Lamouelle, Roman Lamouelle, and Cameron Grosco; and, in the front row, Shaylynn Mantla, Florianne Rabesca, Francis Shed, Edie Smith, and Reanna Dryneck. photos by Vanita Zoe

Apples was already noted as a strong participant in the Imbe program, which brings youth together with elders on the land to connect with their culture, serve their communities and get safety certifications, among other activities.

When a team leader had to leave her position to take another job, the program managers asked Apples to take over.

“I didn't want to do it,” says Apples. “I kept telling [program managers Paul Cressman and Vanita Zoe] that I couldn't do it–‘it was too much,’ ‘I don't know what to do.’ And then they just calm me down.”

And Apples “did it all–she did a really awesome job,” says Zoe.

This is one of the main goals of the Imbe program–to imbue youth, who are attending high school or post-secondary school, with confidence and to draw the leader out of them, all through reconnecting them with their Tlicho culture.

Rhonda Apples helps with the Imbe program in Wekweeti last year.

There have been other benefits, too. Participants often become team leaders and then program managers – paid seasonal jobs – as happened with both Apples and Zoe.

As well, since the program began in 2011, it has allowed elders to pass down their knowledge to youth.

Some of those elders have since died, and Zoe says she, personally, is grateful to have been given the chance to learn.

Zoe says “spending time with Robert Mackenzie before he passed away and the fact that he was able to like kind of teach us something that I still remember and hold value in,” is something she still holds dear.

The program happens concurrently in Behchoko, Whati, Wekweeti and Gameti, and has been growing due to demand and interest from both youth and elders.

While its mandate remains the same, the programs exact activities change from year to year according to the assistant program manager’s vision. This year, that vision is Apples’.

While she’s still planning the details, Apples says it will involve lots of overnight and day trips to traditional landmarks around the participants’ communities.

“Basically, it's just to have them learn and keep their traditional teaching the knowledge,” says Apples.