Northern Arapaho Chairman Roy Brown Testifies on Cultural and Ecological Impact of Federal Wildlife Management

Press Release

Today, U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) welcomed Northern Arapaho Business Council Chairman Roy Brown before the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. Senator Barrasso invited Brown to testify on ways culture, ecology, and wildlife management affect life along the Wind River Range.

Barrasso praised Brown's unique and qualified perspective on this issue.

"As chairman of the Northern Arapaho tribe in Wyoming, Chairman Brown is uniquely qualified to discuss the ways culture, ecology, and wildlife management affect life along the Wind River Range," said Barrasso. "I know Chairman Brown plans to share today the ecological damage wild and feral horses have had in Wyoming, and this situation is not unique to the Wind River Reservation. A number of other tribes and states have grappled with the challenge of managing horse populations on tribal lands and in areas managed by the Bureau of Land Management."

Barrasso outlined how wildlife managers must take into account the tradition, value and importance of subsistence activities in Wyoming and specifically on the Wind River Reservation.

"Across the grasslands of Wyoming, forage is a valuable commodity for the elk, pronghorn, and bison that were reintroduced on the Wind River in 2017. When forage quantity wanes, wildlife moves on. Changes to migration patterns have a ripple effect throughout the food chain, and fundamentally change the generations-long traditions of subsistence activities," said Barrasso. "As we talk about the importance of continuity in migration corridors and effective wildlife management, it is more important than ever to recognize the historic and cultural impacts wildlife management can bring."

Brown testified that there were an estimated 2,100 horses in the lower mountainous areas of the Wind River Reservation in 2012. Today, he says that number has increased to about 6,500 horses in the wilderness of the reservation.

"As the horse herds increase in numbers, so does the negative impacts to the environment. The horses will take every opportunity to overgraze on grasslands they come across," said Brown. "Additionally, tribal members have a traditional and/or ceremonial use for many plants and materials found on the reservation. A long-term or permanent loss of these plants and materials would be culturally devastating."

Brown elaborated how increased horse herds have also negatively affected big-game populations and led to decreased hunting opportunities on the reservation.

"Mule deer, elk, big horn sheep and moose have all been displaced because of increasing shortage of grasslands," said Brown. "When big game are not able to find grasslands on which to forage on the reservation, they will migrate to areas where they can find food. Many times, that means they migrate off the reservation or to higher elevations. This has been particularly taxing on tribal members who have traditionally depended on big game for subsistence."

Lastly, Brown reiterated that it will take a multi-partner approach to fully address the wild and feral horse problem on reservation lands.

"We will require the knowledge of tribal members, wildlife and ecology experts, and federal agencies to help return our lands to their former state," said Brown. "And to protect the lands from future invasion of feral horses, the Wind River tribes will require more enforcement figures in our Fish and Game Department."

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