Photo By Chief Warrant Officer Sara Muir | The Alutiiq Dancer of Kodiak present several songs and dances for assembled members of...... read more read more
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KODIAK, Alaska - The Coast Guard and the Sun'aq tribe of Kodiak signed a memorandum of understanding to improve cooperation between the two governments during a ceremony at Coast Guard Base Kodiak Wednesday.
The memorandum formalizes the joint relationship between the two entities to promote positive communication and cooperation on cultural, environmental, and community issues of importance.
"This relatively new relationship has allowed success in several areas and we are pleased about the mutually beneficial use of the property," said Capt. Jerald Woloszynski, commanding officer Coast Guard Base Kodiak. "The Coast Guard looks forward to future engagement with the Sun'aq tribe.”
The 21,000 acres of federal land that constitutes Coast Guard Base Kodiak was originally withdrawn for military use beginning in 1939. These same lands were historically used by the Sun’aq people. The idea of creating a memorandum of understanding was first brought forward in 2010 and was officially developed in 2012. Representatives for both governments have been working together for a little over a year to come to an agreement.
“The MOU is historic and an important next step in our close relationship with the Coast Guard as it relates to our membership's ancestral lands under their jurisdiction,” said Patricia Pruitt, tribal chairwoman, Sun’aq Tribe of Kodiak. “It will foster further cooperative analysis of past environmental impacts on those lands and the potential for future cooperative efforts with the Coast Guard. We applaud the Coast Guard for its leadership in bringing this about."
The Sun'aq tribe of Kodiak is a federally recognized Alaska Native tribal government. Kodiak City and the surrounding area, including the Coast Guard base, is the traditional homeland of its more than 1,600 tribal citizens.
| Date Taken: | 02.27.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 02.28.2013 02:00 |
| Story ID: | 102676 |
| Location: | KODIAK, ALASKA, US |
| Web Views: | 210 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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