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Date of Work
Likely 1949
Description
This undated handwritten letter from Chester Smith of Van Hook, North Dakota to United States (US) Representative Usher Burdick reminds Burdick that he had promised to help the tribes on the Fort Berthold Reservation in regard to the construction of the Garrison Dam and the taking of their land for the dam. Smith asks Burdick to assist Three Affiliated Tribes member Martin Cross at the April 29 hearing in Washington, D. C.
There is a small burn on the letter that obscures the date; however, there was a hearing on US House Joint Resolution 33 (H. J. 33) on April 29, 1949. H. J. 33 became US Public Law 437, or "The Taking Act" which authorized the taking of land from the Three Affiliated Tribes for construction of the Garrison Dam.
Keywords
Mandan Hidatsa and Arikara Nation, the Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Reservation, Mandan, Nueta, Hidatsa, Arikara, Sahnish, hearing, delegate, Martin Cross, The Taking Act, US Public Law 437, House Joint Resolution 33, H. J. 33, Garrison Dam, Garrison Reservoir, Garrison Diversion, Washington D. C.
Organizations Referenced
Mandan Hidatsa and Arikara Nation, the Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Reservation, Mandan, Nueta, Hidatsa, Arikara, Sahnish
People Referenced
Martin Cross, Usher Burdick, Chester Smith
Recommended Citation
Smith, Chester, "Letter from Chester Smith to Representative Burdick Regarding Garrison Dam, Undated" (2022). Usher Burdick Papers. 359.
https://commons.und.edu/burdick-papers/359