A group of people harvesting wild rice on Saturday reported human remains along the shores of Leech Lake, east of Walker.

Cass County deputies responded to the call and identified the skeletal remains of “at least three individuals believed to be several hundred years old,” according to a joint news release from the Cass County Sheriff’s Office and Leech Lake Tribal Police.

County officials contacted the Leech Lake Ojibwe Band Heritage Sites Program. According to the news release, Leech Lake officials confirmed the officials’ findings and “steps have been taken to secure the remains.”

The precise location of the remains is not being disclosed at this time, although it is located at a known cultural site near Gould Township.

The site is located within the boundaries of the Leech Lake Reserve.

County and tribal law enforcement have also reached out to the Minnesota Indian Affairs Council (MAIC). The council is assisting in the process, the statement said.

“The Cass County Sheriff’s Office, Leech Lake Tribal Police Department and the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe would like to take this opportunity to remind citizens of the importance of contacting law enforcement if they encounter suspicious human remains and not disturbing the area,” the statement said.

The statement also reminds the public that anyone disturbing cultural sites and cemeteries may face civil and criminal penalties.

County, tribal and state officials are “working together to ensure that human remains are preserved and ultimately restored to their original condition in a timely and culturally appropriate manner,” the statement said.