37 



Mr. Richardson. Mr. Velarde, you mentioned the extensive wild- 

 life data collection that the Jicarilla Apache Tribe undertakes. 



Are there similar types of efforts within the BIA that they are 

 initiating, or would you call yours unique? 



Mr. Rudy Velarde. No, there's no information like this in exist- 

 ence. To my knowledge, we're the only ones that have this informa- 

 tion. It costs the Tribe a lot of money to generate this information, 

 and we're very proud to have this information. 



And if anybody wants additional information, we're the main au- 

 thority on what we're saying here, and we are recognized by the 

 state courts and other hunting organizations throughout the Unit- 

 ed States. 



For example, the big game shows and other big game organiza- 

 tions, they're the ones — if you go over there and you mention 

 Jicarilla, they know exactly where we're at and what we can 

 produce. 



Thank you. 



Mr. Richardson. Of course, the Jicarilla's know this, but when- 

 ever members of Congress ask me where is the ideal place for rec- 

 reational hunting, they mention the Jicarilla Apaches. I think you 

 have a luiique program there. 



Mr. Rudy Velarde. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 



Through the years, we also have several articles in national mag- 

 azines with regard to our reservation, so we're pretty well recog- 

 nized as far as hunting and fishing programs that we have. 



Mr. Richardson. Yes. 



I'm going to recognize my colleague. 



Mr. Thomas. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 



Again, clarification. 



You speak of the sovereignty and that sort of business. 



Is there a confusion or an overlapping of jurisdiction with respect 

 to state game and fish operations and fish and wildlife? 



Is there a question about who has the authority to manage wild- 

 Ufe on your reservation? 



Ms. NOTAH. Representative Thomas, if I may, I'd like to field 

 that question. 



I don't think there's a confusion about who has the right to man- 

 age these resources, at least with the Navajo it's fairly well clear 

 that the Navajo Nation does have that responsibility for their own 

 resources. 



In many instances, we are doing just as much, or even much 

 more than what the states are doing in terms of 



Mr. Thomas. So it's not a conflict of jurisdiction generally? 



Ms. NOTAH. No, it's not. 



Mr. Thomas. It's really money. Is that it? 



Ms. NOTAH. It's primarily funding. 



Mr. Thomas. Okay. Thank you. 



Mr. Richardson. I thank my colleague. 



Before I ask the Representative of American Samoa to chair the 

 next panel, because I too, like Mr. Johnson, must leave because I 

 have to go to the White House for a session with the Chief Execu- 

 tive, but I will return. 



I would like to thank this group of witnesses. 



