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Description

This letter, dated March 5, 1952, from D. S. Myer, Commissioner of the United States (US) Bureau of Indian Affairs to US Senator William Langer, makes reference to Langer's letter of February 14 describing a resolution shown to Langer by James Black Dog of Elbowoods, North Dakota demanding an audit of all tribal funds collected and expended by the Three Affiliated Tribes since 1910.

Myer explains that prior to June 29, 1936 authority to administer funds was vested in the US Department of the Interior, and since then the Constitution and bylaws of the Three Affiliated Tribes have provided for annual audits and the maintenance of "accurate and complete public accounts of the affairs of the tribes," (emphasis in original) including credits, debts, debits and assignments, as well as an annual report and balance sheet submitted to the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

Myer writes that, given the exiting audits and documentation, an audit by the US Department of the Interior should not be necessary.

Myer goes on to address Black Dog's request for information regarding interest earned on the monies paid to the tribe in return for lands taken in connection with the construction of the Garrison Dam, explaining the interest rates and policies regarding the use of principal and interest, before enumerating the efforts made by the Tribal Council and Bureau of Indian Affairs to keep tribal members informed on the particulars related to tribal funds in general and funds related to the compensation for damages associated with Garrison Dam in particular.

Date of Work

3-5-1952

Keywords

Elbowoods, land acquisition, Garrison Dam, Garrison Reservoir, Garrison Diversion, Mandan Hidatsa and Arikara Nation, The Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Reservation, Mandan, Nueta, Hidatsa, Arikara, Sahnish, US Secretary of the Interior, US Treasury, per capita payments, US Bureau of Indian Affairs, US Indian Bureau, United States Department of Interior

Organizations Referenced

Mandan Hidatsa and Arikara Nation, The Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Reservation, Mandan, Nueta, Hidatsa, Arikara, Sahnish, US Secretary of the Interior, United States Department of Interior, US Bureau of Indian Affairs

People Referenced

D. S. Myer, William Langer, James Black Dog, Jim Blackdog

Letter from D. S. Myer to Senator Langer Regarding Demands by James Black Dog et al. for an Audit of All Tribal Moneys Collected and Expended since 1910, March 5, 1952

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