Who?
Charles Dingman — Chair, Maine Democratic Party
LISTEN:
Where?
Bangor, Maine
When?
Saturday — July 25, 2026
What?
At Maine Democrats’ US Senate nominating convention to replace Graham Platner, state Democratic Party Chair Charles Dingman called for federal recognition of the Wabanaki Nations.*
Caught our ear:
“We are meeting today in the unceded homeland of the Penobscot Nation. The Maine Democratic Party acknowledges that the Maliseet, Mi’kmaq, Passamaquoddy and Penobscot Tribal Nations have long been stewards of the places where most of us live and work,” Chair Dingman told convention delegates. “And that they are entitled to recognition as distinct sovereign entities.”
Extended applause.
“Maine Democrats look forward to working with the Wabanaki to ensure that they enjoy all the same rights, privileges, powers, duties and immunities as every other federally recognized tribe in this country!” Chair Dingman continued.
Extended applause.
“Thank you Democrats. Way to acknowledge,” Dingman said. “That’s fantastic!”
WATCH: Find Ask a Pol on YouTube, TikTok or Instagram!
BACKGROUND:
In Maine, Indian Country is classified as municipalities, not sovereign nations as is common with reservations, which Maine tribes have been fighting for decades.
Federal recognition hard, not impossible
Earlier this Congress, after waiting more than a century, North Carolina’s Lumbee Tribe secured federal recognition after a steady — and stout — yearslong lobbying effort by Lumbee tribal elders, the state’s two Republican US Senators and President Donald Trump.
Ask a Pol’s history with Indian Country:
Ask a Pol founder Matt Laslo is proud to have counted NPR’s National Native News as one of his wire service (see: The LCB) clients for close to two decades.
LISTEN YOURSELF:
Matt Laslo’s coverage of the Lumbee on National Native News.
THANK YOU, C-SPAN!*
*…despite your Capitol Hill Bureau Chief targeting Matt Laslo and other independent journalists…
