08-22-22 Letter from MN Indian Affairs Council

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mi MINNeSOTA INDIAN AFFAIRS COUNCIL 06/29/2022 Dylan Goetsch Halpin-Starvation Point Mounds 21HE0003 1:00 pm -3:00 pm Visited this site with Met Council, Bolton and Menk,Amanda Gronhovd (OSA), Leonard Wabasha (SMSC),Terry Kemper(MLO), Samantha Odegard (USC), and Cheyanne St.john (LSIC). Near Mound 9, Met Council will need to excavate and dig an area for upcoming utility work. Work will be monitored by tribal monitors and archaeologist.Work is being done adjacent to the Mound and is confined to the road.Across the street is where Mound 7 is located on private property. Obvious mound was identified from the road with two trees recently were planted into the mound.The State Archaeologist visited it upon me requesting her to verify it. Male homeowner came out and was nice and asked everyone who we were. Minutes later a female homeowner came out and began yelling at everyone about walking on her recently seeded grass in the R/W. Met Council informed her that we have access to the R/W where the seed was. She didn't believe it was R/W.The State Archaeologist attempted to introduce herself and explain our concerns about the trees, homeowner claimed that she went through the proper channels to plant the trees and she has paperwork stating that it isn't a burial mound. She would not calm down, began threatening to call the police, and began filming us via cellphone.We waited around by our cars for about 15 minutes but police never arrived. Unknown if the female homeowner did or did not call the police. She continued to film us and yell while we waited. Due to her inability to calm down and talk to the State Archaeologist,we felt it was best to leave for everyone's safety. 6/30/2022 8:00-10:00 am. Looked through the state burial files. Nothing to indicate homeowners ever worked with OSA or MIAC. Only the homeowners across the street(Mound 9)ever did. In 1996/1997, an archaeological survey was conducted ahead of the proposed road widening,the survey identified the mound feature as being burial mound 7 of the Halpin Mound group and noted it had been mutilated/disturbed from the initial previous construction of the road. I recommended that due to the property owner's unwillingness to discuss the issue with out offices, it goes straight to law enforcement.