The Imbe program, running from July 16 to Aug. 24, is now open for youth from Tlicho communities to register to participate SA国际影视传媒� and theySA国际影视传媒檒l 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.

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.

SA国际影视传媒淚 didn't want to do it,SA国际影视传媒� says Apples. SA国际影视传媒淚 kept telling [program managers Paul Cressman and Vanita Zoe] that I couldn't do itSA国际影视传媒揝A国际影视传媒榠t was too much,SA国际影视传媒� SA国际影视传媒業 don't know what to do.SA国际影视传媒� And then they just calm me down.SA国际影视传媒�

And Apples SA国际影视传媒渄id it allSA国际影视传媒搒he did a really awesome job,SA国际影视传媒� says Zoe.

This is one of the main goals of the Imbe programSA国际影视传媒搕o 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.

There have been other benefits, too. Participants often become team leaders and then program managers SA国际影视传媒� paid seasonal jobs SA国际影视传媒� 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 SA国际影视传媒渟pending 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,SA国际影视传媒� 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 managerSA国际影视传媒檚 vision. This year, that vision is ApplesSA国际影视传媒�.

While sheSA国际影视传媒檚 still planning the details, Apples says it will involve lots of overnight and day trips to traditional landmarks around the participantsSA国际影视传媒� communities.

SA国际影视传媒淏asically, it's just to have them learn and keep their traditional teaching the knowledge,SA国际影视传媒� says Apples.