Blood council guilty of contempt charges

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The dispute between Blood chief Harley Frank and the tribe's council came to an end Feb. 25 at least as far as the Federal Court is concerned.

Justice Barbara Reed found all 12 council members guilty of contempt for breaching court orders against locking Frank out of his office and holding an illegal byelection last summer.

But Reed delayed sentencing the group until March 29 to give the band enough time to hold an election, an event she hoped would purge the council of contempt.

Frank and the 12 councillors signed a deal agreeing to hold the general election in which any Blood band member can run. The deal also reimburses Frank his overdue salary and costs incurred from legal fees.

Former Chief Roy Fox, who was elected chief in the illegal June 30, 1993 byelection, agreed to step down from the position. But he will receive all salary owed to him and will be reimbursed all legal fees as well.

Council will conduct band business as usual. All current and future legal costs for Frank, Fox and the 12 councillors are to come from Blood tribe funds.

"We need to move forward now," Frank said. "This has been very bad for our people, but I think our people are smart, they'll choose the right candidates."

Nominations were to be held Feb. 25 for the March election, but Frank had not decided whether he'd run again.

"I have to discuss it with my family. This has been very hard on them."

But key people on the south-eastern Alberta reserve, Canada's largest, think Frank's name should appear on the ballots.

"He's a good leader," said Keith Chief Moon. "I think he wants that's best for the people."

Chief Frank said he spent more than $70,000 on legal bills this year, though he's tried to keep expenses down. Councils legal costs aren't known but are sure to be a prime election issue.

Fox, who originally lost the chief position to Frank in a November, 1992 election, said he'll definitely run in the upcoming election, in hopes of restoring harmony on the reserve.