LEECH LAKE DIVISION OF RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
-CULTURAL RESOURCES DEPARTMENT-

WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO

The Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe (LLBO) is committed to protecting cultural heritage, as it is one of the central features that define human existence. While most people envision archaeology purely as ancient artifacts buried beneath deep layers of earth, archaeology also encompasses historical components. The term cultural resource includes both prehistoric and historic contexts as well as Traditional Cultural Properties. Our department is dedicated to identifying, preserving, protecting, and understanding our collective past.

The Cultural Resources Department is comprised of the
• Heritage Sites Program and the...
• Tribal Historic Preservation Office (THPO).

HERITAGE SITES
The Heritage Sites Program conducts archaeological research within the Leech Lake Reservation, the Chippewa National Forest, and other areas within Minnesota and the Upper Midwest. We are a profit-based Program, combining cultural resource management (CRM) with a money-generating aim, which benefits both the cultural resources and the LLBO.

TRIBAL HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE (THPO)
The Tribal Historic Preservation Officer (THPO) is a federally appointed agent who oversees cultural resources within Reservation boundaries and advises federal, state, and county agencies in the management of cultural and historic properties throughout the region. The THPO works with the Tribal Archaeologist to ensure that all cultural properties are protected and preserved under current historic preservation legislation, including federal, state, and tribal regulations and ordinances. Under the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) (http://www.achp.gov/regs-rev04.pdf), the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (http://ceq.eh.doe.gov/nepa/regs/nepa/nepaeqia.htm), and other legislation, all governmentally associated ground disturbing activities must be reviewed for cultural resource sensitivity, just as they are reviewed for environmental sensitivity.

PERSONNEL CONTACTS (THPO)

Leech Lake Band of Chippewa Indians
Leech Lake Heritage Sites Program
115 6th Street NW, Suite E
Cass Lake, MN 56633
Contact: Gina Lemon, Preservation Officer
218-335-8095
Fax: 218-335-8309
llthpo@hotmail.com

PERSONNEL CONTACTS (HERITAGE SITES)

Thor Olmanson, MS, Program Director - 218-335-8095
hsites@llojibwe.com
Click here to see my vitae.

Colleen Wells, MS, Field Director - 218-335-8095
crkwells@earthlink.net
Click here to see my vitae.

Sheila Gotchie, Office Manager - 218-335-8095
sheila.gotchie@llojibwe.com

Tonya Struecker, Records Manager - 218-335-8319
chickadee51329@yahoo.com