46 



Mr. Faleomavaega. Thank you, Mr. Maulson. 



I know that for some of you perhaps this may be your first expe- 

 rience in coming to Washington and testifying before a Congres- 

 sional hearing. It may also be to you a disappointment to see that 

 not very many members are here to listen and to hear the testi- 

 monies of those who appear before the committee. 



But I want to give assurance to all of you that sometimes when 

 you see this, don't be misled to think that the testimonies are not 

 an important part of the whole hearings process. 



This is the very reason that we have everything, and I will sub- 

 mit this for the record, that all of your testimonies will be incor- 

 porated and be made part of the record. 



And before the committee can make a decision on given legisla- 

 tion, even for purposes of oversight, the fact is that we need to 

 have a record. 



And this is the very reason why we're having the hearing. And 

 as the Chairman has stated earlier, sometimes we have conflicting 

 appointments or commitments — sometimes we have five appoint- 

 ments in the same given time. And I don't think there's any way 

 that any of us can adequately address some of the problems affect- 

 ing the Administration and the procedures that we have here on 

 the hill. 



But I want to give assurance to our fi*iends who are testify this 

 morning that it is very important, and that we will take your state- 

 ments in all seriousness, and that hopefully by building this record, 

 we will be able to develop the kind of legislation that will be help- 

 ful to meet the needs of our Native American community. 



So I just want to state that for the record. 



Mr. Schlender. 



STATEMENT OF JAMES H. SCHLENDER 



Mr. Schlender. Mr. Chairman, my name is James Schlender, 

 and I'm the Executive Administrator of the Great Lakes Indian 

 Fish and Wildlife Commission. 



On behalf of the Commission's 13 member tribes, located in the 

 States of Wisconsin, Michigan, and Minnesota, I'd like to thank you 

 for the opportunity to appear here today regarding Indian fish and 

 wildlife management and enhancement issues. 



In this testimony, I would like to refer the Committee to our 

 written testimony regarding the comprehensive natural resources 

 management programs that the Commission undertakes on behalf 

 of its member tribes on more than 16 million acres of off-reserva- 

 tion lands and waters. 



In addition, I would like to take this opportunity to suggest some 

 of the ways we feel federal legislation could help to preserve and 

 strengthen these kinds of natural resource programs. 



I will forego describing what we do and go right to the need for 

 federal legislation. 



The Commission's activities are necessary to the protection of the 

 fish, wildlife, and plant resources which continue to be central to 

 the cultural, religious and economic lives of the tribal members we 

 serve. 



