American Indian Communities in Minnesota
Indian Burial Grounds

Are American Indian burial grounds found on private property protected from disturbance?

Yes. Minnesota Law protects all human skeletal remains or burial grounds from disturbance. An intentional, willful or knowing violation of the law is a felony.⁽⁷⁸⁾ The law also provides protection from disturbance any removal of a tombstone, monument, or structure placed in any human burial ground; an intentional, willful or knowing violation of this provision is a gross misdemeanor.

If someone finds buried remains that may be American Indian remains on their property, what can they do with them?

First contact the State Archeologist at the Minnesota Historical Society who is responsible for authenticating all burial sites, including pioneer and American Indian sites. This responsibility includes the costs of authentication, identification, and marking of the site. If the site is an American Indian burial ground, it may only be relocated after the approval of the Indian Affairs Intertribal Board.

What is the Minnesota Native American Reburial Project?

The project is a Minnesota Indian Affairs Council program that began with specific legislative funding in fiscal year 1991.⁽⁷⁹⁾ The purposes of the program are to identify American Indian human remains, create an inventory and database, identify and prepare individuals for reburial, and arrange reburial ceremonies.