Blood council facing contempt charges

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The Blood band council has been ordered to appear in Federal Court in September to answer contempt of court charges for a June 30 byelection held to replace Chief Harley Frank.

The byelection violated a Federal Court order upholding Frank's right to stay in office until at least Nov. 2.

Roy Fox, who served as chief for 12 years before being defeated by Frank in November 1992, was re-elected in the byelection. Some band members say only about 14 per cent of the band's 3,955 eligible voters cast ballots.

The dispute began in March when Frank bought a buffalo herd, which council claims was not authorized by them. It has escalated to the pint that the reserve is in chaos, with band members afraid to speak out, fearing retaliation.

But the band council is proceeding with business deals, including a recent one with Chancellor Resources, which will let them drill several wells this summer on 55,000 acres of reserve land.

And although Indian Affairs has said it will not recognize Roy Fox as chief, the chief's consent is not required for business agreements.

Ken Jobin, Director of Funding Services for the Department of Indian Affairs, said a quorum of council - a majority of council - has the legal authority to approve documents.

Fox and council are eager to give the impression it's business as usual, said Frank's wife Lois. After all the confusion and disruption, they want to be seen as doing something positive for the Blood people.

But they are continuing to ignore Frank's federally upheld right to be chief, including withholding his pay cheques. This is forcing his already-broke family to endure great hardship, even to the point of rationing food, said Lois Frank. And Frank himself is suffering from exhaustion.

But he has no intention of giving up the fight and has asked the tribal Elders to mediate. At a recent meeting called by the Elders, Lois said they were disgusted with council and they feel council has embarrassed the tribe and are acting on their own with no consideration of what their people want.

The solution as the Elders see it is to have an election to replace council members and forbid current members from running for another two to five years, Lois said.