A group of people harvesting wild rice on Minnesota’s third-largest Leech Lake have stumbled upon human skeletal remains believed to be several hundred years old, The Associated Press reports.
The discovery, made on Saturday, has prompted an investigation into the finding.
The remains, suspected to belong to at least three people, were found exposed on the lake’s shore due to erosion. Leech Lake, spanning over 100,000 acres, is situated primarily within the Leech Lake Indian Reservation in north-central Minnesota.
“They’ll just arise like that, just through natural erosion of the water coming up on shorelines,” explained Leech Lake Tribal Police Chief Ken Washington.
The area has been home to multiple tribes over the centuries, with the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe being the most recent residents. Chief Washington noted that the discovery of remains in the area is not uncommon.
The wild rice harvesters, who use canoes and paddles to collect the grain – a culturally and spiritually significant food source for the Ojibwe, Dakota, and other tribes – contacted authorities after spotting the remains.
Cass County Sheriff Bryan Welk confirmed the remains were ancient and promptly contacted the Leech Lake Heritage Sites program, responsible for archeological research in the region. The Minnesota Indian Affairs Council also joined the effort to ensure the remains are treated with cultural respect.
“It has happened a couple times a year, but then they can go several years in between,” said Sheriff Welk, referring to discoveries of remains unearthed during construction projects or natural erosion.
Authorities are urging people who encounter suspected human remains to contact law enforcement immediately and avoid disturbing the area.
“In doing so, this ensures vital evidence is preserved, along with being respectful of those who were here before us,” the joint statement from tribal and county authorities declared.
