The Metropolitan Council on March 12 adopted a resolution establishing procedures for use of a Land, Water and People acknowledgment developed with input from the American Indian Advisory Council and staff workgroups.

Lisonbee Waka, speaking for advisory partners, reviewed the timeline: the American Indian Advisory Council presented commitments in September 2024 and created a statement in October 2024; a Regional Development Guide work group drafted recommended procedures on Nov. 6, 2024, and the committee of the whole endorsed those procedures on Dec. 4, 2024. The proposed procedures direct the council to have the short statement read by the council chair at meetings of the governing body and committee of the whole, permit standing committee chairs to read the short statement at their discretion, include the short statement in posted agendas and official plans, and include the long statement on webpages and in educational materials where appropriate.

Council Member Lilligren said the action fulfills requests made by the American Indian Advisory Council and that it is an important step toward relationship- and trust-building. Chair Charlie Zelle said he previously had mixed feelings about land acknowledgments but had come to see that words backed by action matter. The council adopted the resolution by voice vote; the transcript records the motion carried and that the council's practice of reading the statement will begin.

The resolution directs staff to adapt the statements for use at Met Council facilities, include the short statement in new-employee and council-member orientation, and make the long statement available as an educational resource on a Met Council webpage about American Indian communities and tribal relations.