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Mr. Faleomavaega. I want to thank you gentlemen for the testi- 

 mony that has been brought before the Committee. 



I think we seem to have a consistent theme across the board in 

 terms of all those who have testified — and has been alluded earlier 

 by the Chairman's statement — about the lack of cooperation, or 

 even for that matter, assistance that we've received from the Bu- 

 reau of Indian Affairs. 



Maybe I'm being repetitious for raising this question, but to all 

 of you gentlemen, and I think I can ask the members of the panel, 

 in your opinion, how much assistance has the Bureau of Indian Af- 

 fairs given to your respective organizations in the past in handling 

 this issue of fisheries and wildlife interests from our Native Amer- 

 ican communities throughout the country. 



And I just wanted to ask that in general form. 



Mr. Poynter, your comments are well taken in terms of what this 

 Committee needs to do. Certainly better coordination is needed to 

 maximize the participation of our Native American communities, 

 especially because of the long distances that some of you have had 

 to travel to visit us here in Washington. 



I'm sure it's also the intent of the Chairman, Mr. Richardson, 

 that rather than you having to come to Washington, maybe there 

 needs to be a reversal of the process. Maybe Washington needs to 

 go to you and to hear directly from the tribal organizations. The 

 members of the Committee would see and experience the reahties 

 of what the Native American tribes have had to face, not only for 

 their economic, but certainly for their social needs at present. 



Now I think I want to assure Mr. Poynter that the Chairman 

 will definitely take that into consideration, and it will certainly be 

 my personal recommendation that we consider this. 



I just wanted to ask that first question to all of you. In your opin- 

 ion, on a scale of one to ten, what is your opinion of the Bureau 

 of Indian Affairs giving assistance or lack of assistance to your re- 

 spective organizations? 



I'd like to ask Mr. Maulson first. 



Mr. Maulson. Mr. Chairman, like I say, it's a great distance 

 that we've traveled, and it's always good to bring your staff along. 

 As you know, yourself, a chair person and a very busy person, that 

 I like to have my technical director of our Natural Resource De- 

 partment answer that on behalf of Lac Du Flambeau. 



Larry Wawronowicz, please, if you would. 



Mr. Faleomavaega. Please do so. 



Mr. Wawronowicz. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 



I appreciate this opportiuiity. 



I guess in terms oi the Bureau of Indian Affairs, or any federal 

 agency which the tribe deals with in terms of trying to manage the 

 resources within the reservation boundaries or on off-reservation, 

 there always seems to be an inconsistency on how these depart- 

 ments deal with Indian tribes. 



And in our testimony, we specifically state that there has to be 

 somewhat of a consistency in which these organizations or federal 

 agencies deal with Indian tribes by possibly coming up with a 

 clearly defined statement of trust responsibility throu^ legislation. 



The Bureau of Indian Affairs, it seems in the past that we al- 

 ways have to come back to Congress during the Appropriations pe- 



