Two young people from the Inupiat village of Point Lay, Alaska, are on a cultural exchange with the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation and the Mystic Aquarium in Connecticut.

Leslie Stalker, 22, and Janelle Young, 16, and their chaperone are spending a week in Connecticut. They are learning more about animal preservation at the aquarium and will visit the Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center on the reservation.

The exchange was set up by Tracy Romano, the aquarium's senior vice president of research and zoological operations. Romano has spent the last 15 years researching whales in Point Lay. Next year, four Inupiat youth will come to Connecticut.

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Scientists hope visit to Mystic Aquarium may inspire native Alaskans to pursue preservation (The New London Day 2/18)