SUBJ: 2009 SOCIETY OF AMERICAN INDIAN GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES (SAIGE)
MERITORIOUS SERVICE AWARD WINNERS
1. IT IS A GREAT PLEASURE TO ANNOUNCE THAT CDR MICHELLE WEBBER AND
MR. JOEL CASTO OF COAST GUARD SEVENTEENTH DISTRICT ARE THE CG
RECIPIENTS OF THE 2009 SAIGE MERITORIOUS SERVICE AWARDS.
2. AS THE MILITARY RECIPIENT, CDR WEBBER ACTIVELY ENGAGED WITH
TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS TO ASSURE ALIGNMENT BETWEEN TRIBAL INTERESTS AND
COAST GUARD OPERATIONS WITHIN THE NORTHERN ALASKAN SLOPE AREA OF
RESPONSIBILITY.  SHE SPEARHEADED COAST GUARD INSTRUCTION OF BOATING
SAFETY CLASSES AT SIX NATIVE VILLAGES, OVERSAW CONSTRUCTION OF A
LOCAL BASKETBALL COURT IN BARROW, ALASKA AND ESTABLISHED A "KIDS
DONT FLOAT" LOANER LIFEJACKET PROGRAM THAT EXPANDED THROUGHOUT THE
TRIBAL REGION.  CDR WEBBERS INITIATIVES HAD A PROFOUND IMPACT ON
TRIBAL ENGAGEMENT AND CREATING AWARENESS OF NATIVE AMERICAN CULTURE
IN THE EXTREME NORTHERN LATITUDES.
3.  AS THE CIVILIAN RECIPIENT, MR. CASTO CONDUCTED SIGNIFICANT
OUTREACH TO NUMEROUS TOWNS AND VILLAGES IN SUPPORT OF CGD SEVENTEEN
TRIBAL INITIATIVES.  HE DEVELOPED AND TAUGHT A TRIBAL ENGAGEMENT
PLAN THAT PROVIDED BACKGROUND IN AMERICAN INDIAN AND NATIVE ALASKAN
LAW AND COORDINATED DEVELOPMENT OF A WHITE PERSONAL FLOTATION
DEVICE THAT NATIVE SUBSISTENCE HUNTERS COULD USE AS CAMOUFLAGE
AGAINST THE ICE AND SNOW.  MR. CASTO WAS INTEGRAL IN GARNERING
SUPPORT OF REGIONAL TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS FOR THE INAUGURAL DEPLOYMENT
OF COAST GUARD SMALL BOATS AND HELICOPTERS TO THE AREA DURING THE
SUMMER OF 2008.
4. CDR MICHELLE WEBBER AND MR. JOEL CASTO WILL RECEIVE THEIR AWARDS
AT THE SAIGE AWARDS BANQUET, TUESDAY, JUNE 2, 2009 IN SAN DIEGO,
CA.
5. MORE DETAILS REGARDING THE SAIGE CONFERENCE CAN BE FOUND AT
WWW.SAIGE.ORG.
6. P. KOFI ABOAGYE, ACTING DEPUTY, OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS, SENDS.
7. INTERNET RELEASE IS AUTHORIZED.