Arthur Bourbon and Lowe Cemeteries

We only learned about the project from a community member. State and federal agencies have an obligation to consult with Indian tribes on projects affecting tribes. That didn't happen," band Chairman Kevin Dupuis said in a statement on Thursday.The Minnesota Department of Transportation halted work immediately on the project in Duluth's Fond du Lac neighborhood after the band raised concerns about the cemetery."We are working with the band and we appreciate their support. We have been meeting and jointly agreed on the next steps," MnDOT project manager Roberta Dwyer said.The MnDOT project is located at the site of the Fond du Lac historic settlement and cemetery, and an inspection by MnDOT and the band earlier this week found human remains, according to the band's statement. The band has yet to determine whether the remains are Native American.The band took issue with the lack of an archaeological study of the area prior to road construction commencing. The incident fits with a pattern, Dupuis said. He pointed out that Fond du Lac Village had graveyards that were disturbed on two previous occasions — when the Lake Superior and Mississippi Railroad passed through in 1869 and when Highway 23 was constructed in 1937."For over 100 years, the band's cemeteries and historic sites have been desecrated by poorly planned development. It's still happening today. This is wrong. It needs to stop," Dupuis said.MnDOT is replacing the Mission Creek bridge and reducing the highway from four lanes to two. The bridge replacement includes relocating an access road to West Fourth Street, which crosses "a well-documented, historic Indian cemetery area," according to the band's statement.MnDOT immediately halted work on the access road when the band alerted the agency about the cemetery at noon on May 26, said MnDOT project manager Roberta Dwyer. MnDOT spent last week consulting with Fond du Lac tribal leaders, as well as a state archaeologist and state cultural resources staff. MnDOT secured the site and met there with the state archaeologist on ... (Duluth News Tribune)

Park Hill Cemetery9 a.m. — Forest Hill Cemetery9:45 a.m. — Calvary Cemetery10 a.m. — Polish Cemetery10:45 a.m. — Sunrise Memorial Park11:15 a.m. — Temple Israel/Maple Grove CemeteryWest Squad8 a.m. — Maritime Visitors Center in Canal Park8:45 a.m. — Greenwood Cemetery9:30 a.m. — Union Cemetery9:45 a.m. — Bethany Cemetery11 a.m. — Oneota CemeteryWest Duluth Memorial Day Parade will start at 12:30 p.m. The parade route will follow Grand Avenue from North 59th Avenue West to North Central Avenue, then south on Bristol Street until it disbands at Super One Foods.Gary-New Duluth Memorial Day ceremony will begin at 9 a.m. at the Veterans Memorial at the corner of Commonwealth Avenue and Stowe Street. The ceremony will honor the sacrifice of veterans from Riverside, Smithville, Morgan Park, Gary-New Duluth, Fond du Lac and Oliver. Speakers will include Mayor Emily Larson; Daniel Fanning, Lake Superior College's director of institutional advancement and an Iraq War veteran; and 148th Fighter Wing Chief Master Sergeant Mark Rukavina.Sunrise Funeral Home and Cemetery in Hermantown will host a Memorial Day service at 10 a.m. with live music, the honor guard and speakers including Brad Bennett, St. Louis County Commissioner Pete Stauber, retired Col. Penny Dieryck of the 148th Fighter Wing and Sgt. Tim Anderson of the Duluth-based U.S. Army Reserve 312th Engineer Company. Food and refreshments to follow.Veterans for Peace Chapter 80 will host a public Memorial Day observance starting at 11 a.m. at Duluth's Lake Place Plaza Peace Statue, located near Michigan Street and Second Avenue East overlooking the Lakewalk. The observance will remember and mourn the sacrifice of service members, all war victims, and those who have given their lives for the causes of peace and justice for all people.Memorial Day services also will be held Tuesday in Duluth at the Korean Veterans Memorial and the Northland Vietnam Veterans Memorial on the Lakewalk near Fitger's in Duluth. May 30 is the traditional date to observe the holiday. Korean War veterans will... (Duluth News Tribune)