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restore, enhance, and maintain the prairie ecosystem for the benefit of our 

 future generations. 



In conjunction with the Prairie Management Plan the Tribe supports 

 the re-introduction of black-footed ferrets onto the reservation as part of the 

 alternative plan to poisoning prairie dogs. Because black-footed ferrets are a 

 natural predator of prairie dogs, they too are a necessary component of the 

 prairie ecosystem. Because black-footed ferrets are an endangered species 

 Federal law requires that Tribes maintain compliance with the regulatory 

 portion of the Endangered Species Act. The Tribe has cooperated with 

 Federal regulations which require the BIA to conduct an Environmental 

 Impact Statement regarding prairie dog control. 



However, in order to implement these plans adequate funding is 

 absolutely essential, but is currently unavailable. Although we have enjoyed 

 widespread support from the BIA, USFWS, and several environmental 

 groups, as well as the House Appropriations Committee, we have yet to 

 receive funding. Because the BIA lacks funding and the Tribe is ineligible 

 for the funding granted to states by the Endangered Species Act or the 

 Federal Aid in Fish and Wildlife Restoration Acts, this project can only be 

 conducted with the support of Congress through special appropriations or 

 other legislative action. 



We offer these examples of our current management enhancement 

 efforts to illustrate the fact that all Federal fish, wildlife and recreational 

 legislation and aid that exists has systematically excluded Tribal 

 governments from the funding mechanisms that would allow implementation 

 of these culturally sensitive and environmentally sound management 

 objectives. Our attempts to receive fiinding through the Endangered Species 

 Act and the Federal Aid Programs to states have been strongly opposed by 

 the states who believe that making these funds available to tribe's would 

 diminish the availability of their funds, and thus threaten their management 

 capability and control. Therefore, we firmly believe that legislation which 

 recognizes Tribes as full participants in fish, wildlife, and recreational 

 management is necessary and long overdue. We also need a fiinding 

 mechanism that allows funds to be distributed directly to Tribal 

 governments. Expanding the Federal Agencies to carry out these 

 management functions will only perpetuate Tribal dependence on the 

 Federal Government and add nedless layers to governmental bureaucracy. 



As the case of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe indicates, buffalo can 

 and are being utilized by tribes as a focal point in the restoration and 

 enhancement of reservation ecologies. This effort is being coordinated by 



