INDIAN FISH AND WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT 



AND ENHANCEMENT 



THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1993 



House of Representatives, 

 Committee on Natural Resources, 



Washington, DC. 



The committee met at 9:44 a.m., in room 1310A, Longworth 

 House Office Building, the Honorable Bill Richardson presiding. 



OPENING STATEMENT OF CHAIRMAN RICHARDSON 



Mr. Richardson. The Subcommittee on Native American Affairs 

 will come to order. 



Indian fish and wildlife resources are an integral part of the eco- 

 nomic and social structure of Indian tribes. Since time immemorial, 

 Indian tribes have rehed on fish and wildlife resources for subsist- 

 ence, economic development, and cultural practices. 



Today, we will be hearing from tribal witnesses fi-om across the 

 nation about their efforts to improve the management of these im- 

 portant resources. We will also hear testimony about the lack of 

 federal involvement in, and assistance for, tribal efforts to improve 

 fish and Indian habitat, increase native fish and Indian popu- 

 lations, and to undertake other conservation measures on tribal 



lands. 



I'd like to remind all the witnesses that your entire written state- 

 ments will be made part of the committee hearing record, so please 

 feel free to summarize your statements within five minutes. 



[At this time, I request the background be made part of the 

 record:] 



Background for February 18th Hearing on Indian Fish and Wildlife 



Management 



HISTORY 



Indian fish and wildlife resources have been, and continue to be, an integral part 

 of tribal economic and social structure. In most treaties with the Federal govern- 

 ment, Indian tribes reserved the right to fish, hunt and gather in their "usual and 

 accustomed places". The right of Indian tribes to hunt, fish and gather have been 

 the subject of several U.S. Supreme Court decisions. As a general rule, Indians 

 enjoy the exclusive right to hunt and fish on their reservations. In United States 

 V. Winans. 198 U.S. 371, 380-81 (1905) the Supreme Court considered the right of 

 the Yakima Indian tribe to hunt and fish at their usual and accustomed places pur- 

 suant to an 1859 treaty. In deciding this case, the Supreme Court recognized the 

 right of the Yakima Indian to use privately owned land in exercising their treaty 

 fishing rights. 



Traditionally, the Courts have interpreted Indian hunting, fishmg and gathermg 

 rights very broadly. Tribal rights to hunt, fish and gather have been recognized by 

 the courts to exist in ceded territories, aboriginal lands and on reservation areas. 



(1) 



