Mason County Democratic Party
Executive Committee
Chair: Liz Kannon
1st Vice Chair: Jason Wolven
2nd Vice Chair: Deborah Yonick
Secretary: Laurie Mckinven-Copus
Treasurer: Deb Shoup
Membership Chair: Janet Pollard
Before public meetings and events, the Mason County Dems read this Land Acknowledgement:
“The State of Michigan occupies the ancestral, traditional and contemporary lands of the Anishinaabek – Three Fires Confederacy, Odawa (Ottawa), Ojibwe (Chippewa), and Bode’wadmi (Potawatomi). The Michigan Democratic Party recognizes historic Indigenous communities in Michigan, and those were forcibly removed from their homelands. We further recognize the ongoing relationship of dependence upon, and respect for, all living beings of earth sky, and water. In offering this land acknowledgement, we affirm Indigenous sovereignty, history, and experiences.
A land acknowledgment statement is a formal statement that recognizes the original inhabitants of the land and their relationship to it. It's a way to honor Indigenous people and their stewardship of the land, and to acknowledge the harmful impacts of colonization.
The local party based its statement on the one adopted by the Michigan Democratic Party in 2021. The Democratic National Committee includes a land acknowledgement statement as the opening to its 2024 Democratic Party Platform. For more information about land acknowledgements visit the National Museum of the American Indian, Smithsonian.
Michigan Democratic Party
The MI Dems is the affiliate of the Democratic National Committee in the state of Michigan, based in Lansing. The focus of the State Democratic Party is on Michigan issues first, fighting for families, seniors, students, and veterans, and working to elect Democrats across the state.Democratic National Committee
Since 1848 the Democratic National Committee (DNC) has been the heart of the Democratic Party, the oldest continuing political party in the U.S.Today, we are millions of supporters strong, leading with our values, fighting for progress, and helping elect Democrats in every state, city, and ZIP code — from local offices to the Oval Office. Our party’s strength lies in advancing our Democratic Platform and forging positive solutions that include everyone.
As Democrats, we believe every person in this nation deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. We believe that health care is a right for all and that the hard work of middle-class families should be rewarded. We believe our schools and streets should be free from gun violence and that a woman’s decisions about her own body are hers to make. We're working to build a bright future for everyone, and America’s place as the land of opportunity for all.
For 171 years, the DNC has been responsible for governing the Democratic Party, composed of the chairs and vice-chairs of each state Democratic Party Committee, and more than 200 members elected by Democrats in all 57 states and territories.
Within the DNC are associations dedicated to electing Democrats across all levels of government, including Secretaries of State, Attorneys Generals, U.S. House Representatives and Senator, Governors and Lieutenant Governors, Mayors, and Municipal and County Officials, as well as legislative campaigns.