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This letter, dated October 12, 1953, from United States (US) Representative Usher Burdick to Lillie Wolf of Elbowoods on the Fort Berthold Reservation is a reply to an earlier letter from Wolf asking for information on a letter she enclosed from J. M. Cooper, area director of the Aberdeen, South Dakota office of the US Bureau of Indian Affairs.

In this reply, Burdick summarizes his understanding of Wolf's stance and argues that her refusal to relocate from the taking area of the Fort Berthold Reservation be flooded by the Garrison Dam is unwise, urging her instead to allow her residence and properties to be moved at government expense while she continues to fight her case in the courts.

Burdick notes also that US Public Law 437 (HJ Res. 33), passed in the first session of 81st Congress, provides that since a majority of the Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Reservation has accepted the process of allotments and land sales related to the Garrison Dam, Wolf is bound by this decision.

Burdick adds that he is sorry he can not be of more help, and sympathizes with Wolf's desire not to give up her rich bottom lands in exchange for poor lands in the relocation area.

The top of the first page of this letter lists the coordinates of Wolf's land. Also attached to this document were two pages of handwritten notes.

See also:

Letter from Laura Knudson to Harry Sellery Regarding Lillie Wolf, October 12, 1953

Date of Work

10-12-1953

Keywords

Elbowoods, flooding, relocation, land acquisition, Garrison Dam, Garrison Reservoir, Garrison Diversion, land program, relocation costs, Mandan Hidatsa and Arikara Nation, The Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Reservation, Mandan, Nueta, Hidatsa, Arikara, Sahnish, US Wheeler Howard Act, US Public Law 437, US HJ Res 33 81st Congress

Organizations Referenced

Mandan Hidatsa and Arikara Nation, The Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Reservation, Mandan, Nueta, Hidatsa, Arikara, Sahnish

People Referenced

Usher Burdick, Lillie E. Wolf, Mr. J. M. Cooper

Letter from Representative Burdick to Lillie Wolf Regarding Her Refusal to Relocate from Taking Area to be Flooded by Garrison Dam, October 12, 1953

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