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TESTIMONY OF THE LAC DU FLAMBEAU BAND OF LAKE SUPERIOR 



CHIPPEWA INDIANS 



HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE ON NATIVE AMERICAN AFFAIRS 

 FEBRUARY 18, 1993 



Mr. Chairman and members of the Committee, I am Tom Maulson, Chairman of the 

 Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians in Wisconsin. I am pleased to 

 have the opportunity to testify on behalf of the Band to express our support for the 

 enactment of legislation recognizing the tribal right to manage and regulate fish and wildlife 

 resources and the federal obligation, under the trust responsibility, to assist the tribes in 

 fulfilling their objectives in this vital area. I also appreciate the opportunity to share with 

 you several specific concerns which the Band would suggest be considered for inclusion in 

 the legislation. 



Let me begin by telling you something about our Reservation and our natural 

 resources program. 



The Lac du Flambeau Indian Reservation is located in north central Wisconsin -- 

 described by many as the "Northwoods." The Reservation is approximately 98,000 acres, and 

 includes 158 lakes, 34 miles of creeks, rivers and streams (a total of 20,000 surface acres of 

 waters), 55,000 acres of forested land, and 15,000 acres of wetlands. As this description 

 suggests, the Reservation ecosystem is very diverse and supports many upland and lowland 

 species of animals and plants. Our waters, lands, woods and skies brim with walleye, 

 muskellunge, smallmouth bass, white tail deer, black bear, eagles, waterfowl, grouse, 

 songbirds, aspen, sugar maple, evergreens, and wild rice. 



The role of these resources in our culture remains the same as it has been from time 

 immemorial. Band members rely on the Reservation's natural resources for subsistence, 

 cultural, religious, medicinal and economic purposes. It is safe to say that the Reservation 

 natural resources are one of our greatest assets, second only to our children. 



Non-Indians also use the Reservation's natural resources. Indeed, since the Lac du 

 Flambeau Indian Reservation is a "checkerboard" reservation, there are many non-Indian 

 people who own land within the exterior boundaries of the Reservation. These individuals - 

 - as well as many non-Indians who live off the Reservation - use our lands and waters to 

 hunt, fish, boat, hike, and for other recreational purposes. Indeed, 95% of the fishing done 

 on the Reservation is done by non-Indians. 



The Band manages the Reservation's natural resources itself. This is done pursuant 

 to the Band's Constitution, which provides that the tribal government has the constitutional 

 responsibility to protect, conserve, and enhance the Reservation's natural resources for 

 present and future generations. In fulfillment of this responsibility, the Lac du Flambeau 

 Band has been operating the Tribal Natural Resources Department since 1936. Currently, 



