58 



Additional member tribes of GLIFWC - particularly those in Michigan and Minnesota - 

 are now properly asserting and exercising their off-reservation treaty rights. GLIFWC must 

 be able to provide the same level of natural resource management services to all its member 

 tribes. Right now, GLIFWC has sufficient funding to meet only one-third of the needs of 

 its member tribes. 



Moreover, for all the tribes involved with natural resource management, 

 environmental protection is becoming increasingly important. Historically, GLIFWC's efforts 

 have been focused on the affirmation of the existence of treaty rights and, once affirmed, 

 on the implementation of those rights. However, management of tribal member harvest is 

 only part of the job. Stresses on tribal natural resources come from many areas, most 

 notably from environmental degradation. GLIFWC's member tribes require the resources 

 and technical expertise to enable them to assess the environmental impacts of pollution 

 discharges into the air and water of the ceded territories; to analyze and participate in 

 permitting processes for new industrial development, such as paper mills, copper smelters 

 and mining activities; and to participate as equal partners in the development of state, 

 federal and international environmental protection regulatory initiatives. Tribal and 

 intertribal natural resources self-regulation is of limited utility if pollution destroys the 

 resources. 



Faced with these challenges, tribes have simultaneously encountered ongoing threats 

 to the continuation of funding for tribal natural resource programs. For example, in its FY 

 93 budget proposal, the Administration proposed reducing GLIFWC's appropriation by 

 approximately 39%. A similar proposal was made in FY 92. Congress routinely has rejected 

 the Administration's proposed cutbacks. Ultimately, in the FY 93 Appropriations 

 Conference Conunittee Report specifically directed: 



Unless specifically indicated otherwise, add-ons in the resources 

 management program (or recurring programs) are to be added 

 to the base of the tribe or tribal organization, and to be 

 included in future budget requests, beginning in fiscal year 1994. 



These budget fights - which are typical of those faced by tribes in the natural 

 resources area - impede GLIFWC's efforts to carry out a comprehensive natural resources 

 management program. Substantive legislation supporting tribal self-regulation of natural 

 resources would greatly enhance the position of tribes seeking to assure the funding needed 

 to move forward in the area of natural resources management. 



5. Tribal member career opportunities in natural resource management programs 

 must be enhanced. 



Despite its best efforts, GLIFWC is not always able to find Indian candidates for its 

 job openings. This is particularly true in the case of biologists. As GLIFWC's experience 



GUFWC Teuimony 

 Fcbnuiy 18, 1993 

 Pi»e9 



