WEKWEETI/SNARE LAKES
Polite, caring, kind and responsible are not words often employed when describing politicians, but a teenager from Wekweeti who embraces these virtues is nonetheless pondering a career in politics.

Trent Rabesca, 15, a Grade 10 student at Alexis Arrowmaker School in Wekweeti, is interested in a career in politics after visiting the legislative assembly during a field trip in Yellowknife last month. Principal Sidney Rodnunsky describes Rabesca and his two Grade 10 classmates as "star students." - photo courtesy of Sidney Rodnunsky

Trent Rabesca, 15, works each summer with the Tlicho Government, has the respect of his teachers, hunts alongside his father and helps his mom around the house.

"I would like to be a politician," he told News/North last week.

Rabesca and his two Grade 10 classmates at Alexis Arrowmaker School visited the legislative assembly in Yellowknife as part of a field trip from February 24 to 26, a visit that inspired Rabesca to get political.

The students met with the Speaker of the legislative assembly, Nunakput MLA Jackie Jacobson, and were introduced to other MLAs.

"Right now I’m thinking I should be taking one of their spots. But, not just taking it away from them–being the one that’s talking, sitting there with all of the other speakers," said Rabesca.

"There are some changes that I’d like to see happen in my community."

Reflecting on insights gleaned from his trip, Rabesca said he would like Education Minister Jackson Lafferty to look for ways to provide funding to expose younger students to experiences such as his recent trip to the legislative assembly. Trips like these, he says, show students what life is like in other communities.

"For our school, Alexis Arrowmaker, we don’t really have that much money to go out on real field trips with the whole school, with good responsible grades that can go. We don’t really go on that many field trips, we just go out of town, like out in the bush," he said.

In addition to advocating for enhanced learning opportunities for elementary and junior high classes, Rabesca said he would like government to improve safety and order in fly-in communities.

Since September, the RCMP has conducted monthly patrols in Wekweeti. Prior to that, officers flew in every two or three months.

"I’d like to see some cops come here more often because some stuff happens here and we just keep it to ourselves because we don’t have cops here," said Rabesca.

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Principal Sidney Rodnunsky, who accompanied Rabesca and his classmates, Logan Judas and Nathaniel Tom, on last month’s field trip describes all three as "star students."

"They’re so polite and caring and kind and responsible," he said. "They think very well. When you get into things like current events or history, they contemplate all the factors."

Rabesca is practising Chief Jimmy Bruno’s philosophy of "being strong like two people" by learning new skills and earning money in the Tlicho Imbe Program, which he participated in last summer.

He learned about canoe safety, firearm safety and wilderness first aid during the six-week course.

"Next summer I’ll do the same thing, to relearn everything and to be a good role model for the other kids who didn’t do the Imbe Program who are going to do the Imbe Program this year," he said.

Family is also an important source of education for Rabesca, who said he learns something new every day.

"For me it’s good to hunt with your dad because when he was young he hunted also, and he can teach me what he learned from his father," he said.

After school he helps his mother around the house.

"Well, sometimes. Not all the time," he said.

Add honesty to the list.

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