190 



SOUTHERN UTE INDIAN TRIBAL COUNCIL 



cJrxlal [riffarrs tfjuiUmg 



POST OFFICE BOX 737 



IGNACIO, COLORADO 8U37 



303-563-4525 



FAX 303-563-4033 



LEONARD C- BURCH. CM»|HM«N 

 VIDA B PEABODY. VICE CHAIRMAN 

 CLEMENT J FROST, COUNCIL MEMBER 

 LILLIAN I SEIBEL. COUNCIL MEMBER 

 HOWARD D RICHARDS, council member 



ORIAN L BOX. COUNCIL MEMBER 

 EVALYN L, HUDSON, COUNCIL MEMBER 



U. S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 



COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES 



SUBCOMMITTEE ON NATIVE AMERICAN AFFAIRS 



INDIAN FISH AND WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AND ENHANCEMENT 



Testimony of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe 

 Leonard C. Burch , Chairman 



T am Leonard C. Burch, Chairman of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe. 

 Thank you for the opportunity to submit these written comments on 

 issues relating to the management and enhancement of Indian fish 

 and wildlife resources. 



The Southern Ute Indian Reservation lies in southwestern Colorado, 

 in Archuleta, La Plata and Montezuma counties. The exterior 

 boundaries encompass 720,000 acres. Approximately 304,980 are 

 Tribal owned and the remaining acres Non-Indian owned, resulting in 

 a "checkerboard" land ownership pattern. Tribal membership within 

 our tribe is 1250 members and our tribal headquarters is located in 

 Tgnacio, Colorado. 



Generations of Native Americans have developed lifestyles, 

 cultures, religious beliefs and customs around their relationships 

 with fish and wildlife resources. The Southern Ute Indian Tribe is 

 no exception. Today, however, some of this valuable heritage has 

 been lost and there is danger of losing more. The ever-expanding 

 human populations and the increasing demand for recreational 

 opportunities has dramatically applied pressure upon tribal fish 

 and wildlife resources. 



In the past, reliance had been placed on Federal and State agencies 

 to provide professional and technical support in the management of 

 tribal fish and wildlife resources. However the level of 

 assistance provide limited, if any assistance for the resources, 

 except in setting seasons, baglimits and enforcement of Non- 

 Indians. 



Tribes in recent years, have begun to exert their jurisdiction over 

 tribal fish and wildlife and have developed professional management 

 programs employing "state of the art" techniques and strategies, 

 balancing biological and ecological principles to insure sound 

 management is afforded the fish and wildlife species. 



