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Testimony of Wainwright Velarde 



House Subcommittee on Native American Affairs 



Oversight Hearing-Indian Fish and Wildhfe Management & Enhancement 



February 18, 1993 



Page 4 



We are very proud of our Game and Fish Department and the high professional 

 standards it has achieved. This subcommittee needs to know that this level of success has 

 not been inexpensive. The annual budget for the Game and Fish Department is 

 approximately $640,000. Of that total, $133,000 comes from a PL 638 contract with the 

 BIA. The remaining $507,000 comes from Tribal funds. Tribal funds cover 79% of the cost 

 of operating the Game and Fish Department. 



We receive no funds from the state of New Mexico and no funds from the United 

 States other than the PL 638 contract. We receive no money from the federal wildlife and 

 fish restoration funds. We receive no technical assistance from the BIA or the US Fish and 

 Wildhfe Service. 



In part because outside funding was not available to the Tribe, we created a special 

 habitat fund to provide money for habitat improvement projects. 10% of the gross revenue 

 from the sale of tribal fishing and hunting licenses is deposited in that habitat fund. The 

 balance of the revenue from license sales goes into the general fund of the Tribe, to pay 

 for the many other governmental services we provide within the Reservation. 



We have spent scarce tribal revenues on the Game and Fish Department because 

 we recognize the importance of proper management of fish and wildlife resources. But it 

 is becoming increasingly difficult to pay for these programs without the kind of federal 

 financial assistance that is available to all the states and territories. The Indian tribes are 

 the only governments in the federal system who do not share in the federal wildlife and fish 

 restoration funds. We believe this situation is grossly unfair, and must be corrected. 



The written materials submitted to the subcommittee provide additional details on 

 our Game and Fish Department. 



Mr. Velarde and I would be happy to answer any questions at this time. 



