DNC Summer Meeting Opens with Indigenous Land Acknowledgment

The Democratic National Committee (DNC) began its annual summer meeting in Minneapolis with a formal land acknowledgment recognizing the Dakota people as the original stewards of the local lands and waters. Lindy Sowmick, treasurer of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, delivered the acknowledgment following an introduction by DNC Chairman Ken Martin. The meeting brought together more than 400 party officials from across all 50 states at a downtown Minneapolis hotel.

During the acknowledgment, Sowmick referenced the historical context of the land, noting the Dakota people's long-standing relationship with the area prior to colonization. She described the acknowledgment as part of addressing a complex history involving treaties with Indigenous peoples. Sowmick encouraged Democratic Party members to engage meaningfully with Indigenous communities rather than treating land acknowledgments as a procedural formality.

The practice of land acknowledgments has become increasingly common at Democratic Party gatherings. The DNC's national convention in Chicago earlier in the election cycle also featured a similar acknowledgment. Additionally, the party's 2024 platform document included a written land acknowledgment on its first page, recognizing Indigenous peoples' historical stewardship of the land.

The summer meeting serves as an opportunity for Democratic Party officials to convene and discuss party matters. The gathering in Minneapolis follows the 2024 presidential election, which resulted in Donald Trump returning to the presidency after defeating incumbent Joe Biden. The meeting agenda includes various party business discussions and organizational planning for the party's future direction.