Blood dispute splintering community

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A bitter dispute between Chief Harley Frank and the Tribal Council on the Blood Reserve is still raging, weeks after an angry protest over the purchase of 84 buffalo for the Blood Indian Ranch.

The controversy became common knowledge March 8. Chief Frank and a group of Elders, escorting the bison home after their purchase in South Dakota, were met at the Highway 509 entrance to the reserve by opposing factions. The protesters claimed to be against the expenditure of almost $100,000 for the animals, but subsequent events have shown the disagreement over the bison to be only one element in the dispute.

Also at issue is a document on re-organization of the tribe's government, written by Wade Alston, a former financial consultant to Frank, when he served as the tribe's economic development officer. Alston claims the draft document was never sent to Frank or discussed with him, but that it was somehow uncovered and misinterpreted by Frank's detractors.

In the document, written on Blood Tribe letterhead, Alston suggests strong, almost dictatorial powers for the chief, along with the dissolution of council's influence and authority. The move, wrote Alston, would help end squabbling and corruption in the tribal government which would allow for financial benefits to the reserve's people.

Several days after the buffalo blockade, Frank was met at the tribal administration building by Blood Police Chief Wayne Hamby, who served him with papers citing conduct and actions against the best interests of the reserve. The papers, drawn up by council, suspended Frank from his duties and prohibited him from entering his office.

In retaliation, Frank lashed out against some council members and tribal administration employees, saying they were intentionally misleading the people to create animosity and hate against him. He then fired Wilton Goodstriker, executive co-ordinator of the tribe, and Annabel Crop Eared Wolf, research director and head of the police commission. He also dismissed the tribe's solicitor, Eugene Creighton.

Frank claimed council didn't have the power to suspend him and applied for a federal court injunction against such actions, "I was elected by the people, he said. "Only the people have the power to suspend me."

The federal court in Ottawa has obviously agreed with Frank in a decision sent down March 19. According to the chief, council has been enjoined not to conduct the tribe's business without him. Both sides have been told they have no power to suspend each other.

Council chose to ignore the court injunction and held a meeting on the reserve, without Frank, on March 22.

Frank has been quite candid with the media in the dispute and has repeatedly said the issue is not the bison purchase or even the Alston letter. "The real problem is the corruption and mis-management that has gone on over the last 10 years, not what I've done in the four months I've been in office."

At an impromptu meeting in the lobby of the tribal administration building March 17, Frank told reporters and more than 100 people gathered there that he will order a complete audit of the tribe's financial records. "The days of corruption are over," he said.

The chief has also said he will pay his legal costs out of his own pocket, while councillors are charging theirs back to the tribe.

Jerry Young Pine, a Blood Elder, says there is strong evidence of mis-management in tribal affair, not just in the council. He cites incompetence at top levels at the St. Paul Treatment Centre as only one example.

"Council is deliberately getting people all mixed up so they'll blame Harley," Young Pine says. "Harley's just been uncovering all the evil that's going on. These people are just protecting their security. They don't want anyone to change the system."

Another demonstration on March 19, brought about 300 people out to the administration building. Though many were there to support Frank, those who sided with council were far more demonstrative

"They had placards calling Harley a Hitler," says Young Pine. "I've never seen so much hatred. Some of these people who call themselves religious, but they were wearing red armbands to say they were prepared to shed blood. There was so much evil and hatred I could reach out my hand and touch it."

Though Councillor Randy Bottle, who has assumed the position of acting chief during the dispute, has mainly declined to comment to the press, he did make a statement after Friday's demonstration. Bottle said there was no truth to Frank's claims of misconduct in council and the administration.