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<DIV><BR><FONT face=Arial size=2><FONT size=4>Mystic Aquarium honors
Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation</FONT><BR>Gift that made exhibit possible is
the largest in the history of the Aquarium</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>By Mystic Aquarium</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><A
href="http://www.norwalkplus.com/nwk/information/nwsnwk/publish/News_1/Mystic-Aqu">http://www.norwalkplus.com/nwk/information/nwsnwk/publish/News_1/Mystic-Aqu</A><BR>arium-honors-Mashantucket-Pequot-Tribal-Nation2826.shtml<BR><BR>Mystic
Aquarium & Institute for Exploration, a division of Sea
Research<BR>Foundation, Inc., yesterday hosted a rededication of the Arctic
Coast<BR>exhibit to recognize the generous gift from the Mashantucket Pequot
Tribal<BR>Nation that made construction of the exhibit possible.<BR><BR>In 1996,
the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation made a gift of $5 million,<BR>which funded
the expansive outdoor exhibit that currently houses the<BR>Aquarium’s three
beluga whales and the seven belugas visiting from Shedd<BR>Aquarium in Chicago.
Containing more than 750,000 gallons of water, it is<BR>one of the largest
outdoor beluga exhibits in the nation.<BR><BR>Originally named the Alaskan
Coast, the exhibit was recently renamed to<BR>accommodate a wider range of
species and reflect the Aquarium’s ongoing<BR>research in the Arctic to
understand climate change and its effect on<BR>belugas.<BR><BR>“We saw the
renaming as the perfect opportunity to reaffirm our gratitude<BR>to the
Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation for their generous gift – the<BR>largest in
the history of the Aquarium,” said Steve Coan, Ph.D., president<BR>and CEO of
Sea Research. “The Arctic Coast was an invaluable addition to<BR>the Aquarium,
providing visitors an up-close and educational experience<BR>with the belugas,
and therefore helping Sea Research Foundation further
its<BR>mission.”<BR><BR>“In 1996, then chairman of the Mashantucket Pequot
Tribal Nation, Richard<BR>A. (Skip) Hayward brought this proposal forward for
tribal council<BR>consideration, which gained full approval. This relationship
with the<BR>Aquarium was a natural for the Tribe because we have long placed
an<BR>emphasis on education not only in our own community but also in
the<BR>community at large,” said Michael Thomas, chairman of the
Mashantucket<BR>Pequot Tribal Nation. “Historically, the Pequot people occupied
the coastal<BR>regions of our state, and we recognize the importance of
understanding the<BR>gifts our Creator gave us in nature, including the water
and all the<BR>creatures placed there.”<BR><BR>The ceremony included speeches
from Sea Research and Mashantucket Pequot<BR>Tribal Nation representatives, as
well as a blessing of the exhibit and<BR>animals by tribal elder George Eleazer,
ceremonial dance performance and<BR>the unveiling of the new exhibit plaque,
which commemorates the tribal<BR>nation’s gift.<BR><BR>The ceremony also served
as a starting point for future collaboration<BR>between Sea Research, the
Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation and the people<BR>of Point Lay, Alaska, where
Dr. Tracy Romano, senior vice president of<BR>research and zoological operations
at Sea Research, conducts beluga<BR>research each year.<BR><BR>“The
opportunities for educational partnerships are vast and include<BR>student
exchange programs among the three groups and collaborative<BR>programming,” said
Dr. Romano. “Everyone at Sea Research looks forward to<BR>this new partnership
and the possibilities it presents to educate more<BR>people about protecting our
oceans and the fascinating cultures of the<BR>tribal nation and Point
Lay.”<BR><BR>To provide visitors a deeper understanding of belugas, the Aquarium
has<BR>installed a new video kiosk at the Arctic Coast, where guests may watch
the<BR>birth of a beluga, the transport of Shedd’s belugas to Mystic or
hear<BR>belugas’ vocalizations live through a hydrophone.<BR><BR>On the main
exhibit floor, a new kiosk features a video on climate change<BR>in the Arctic,
and a television features a live feed into the pool where<BR>five of Shedd’s
belugas are currently staying. All were available for the<BR>first time
today.<BR><BR><FONT size=1><STRONG><U>About Sea Research Foundation,
Inc.</U></STRONG><BR><BR>Mystic Aquarium, Institute for Exploration and
Immersion Presents are<BR>divisions of Sea Research Foundation, Inc., a private,
non-profit,<BR>charitable organization incorporated in the State of Connecticut.
The<BR>mission of Sea Research is to inspire people to care for and protect
our<BR>ocean planet through education, research and
exploration.<BR><BR><STRONG><U>About the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal
Nation</U></STRONG><BR><BR>The Mashantucket Pequots are a people having endured
centuries of conflict,<BR>survival and continuity on and around one of America’s
oldest Indian<BR>reservations established in 1666. Today, the Mashantucket
Pequot Tribal<BR>Nation owns the largest resort casino in North America,
Foxwoods Resort<BR>Casino, along with several other economic ventures, including
a world-class<BR>Museum and Research Center; the Lake of Isles Golf Course, a
joint-venture<BR>partnership establishing the MGM Grand at Foxwoods, and
Foxwoods<BR>Development Company dedicated to world-class resort development
throughout<BR>the United States and Caribbean. Altogether, the Mashantucket
Pequot Tribal<BR>Nation remains one of the State of Connecticut’s highest tax
payers and<BR>largest employers. Likewise, the Tribe provides significant
financial<BR>contributions to state and local non-profit organizations that
support<BR>neighboring communities.</FONT><BR><BR></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>