Chief agrees to meet

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BLOOD RESERVE - Blood Chief Roy Fox said he will meet with the group who are opposing the new election system to discuss the council's rationale in adopting the new changes.

In a telephone inteview October 14, Fox said he is prepared to meet with the protesters next week at their regular council meeting if the group still want to meet. Fox said he had just returned from an out of town business trip and he was unaware of the group's plan to suspend the Blood chief and council until the new election system is resolved.

"I know this issue has been written about in the press but I've had no direct contact with the group," said Fox.

But he said there was a letter received from the Department of Indian Affairs on the group's concerns about the new election changes.

However, Fox was firm that the Blood council has already made its decision on the new election changes according to the Blood Tribal Custom elections and bylaws. He said the council is under Band custom, which means they can make their own bylaws and regulations about election procedures.

Fox said the council has used these bylaws for almost 10 years since there was a successful appeal on the election bylaws in the Indian Act.

"The appeal was based on the fact that reserve members who were living off the reserve were unable to vote in band elections. Since then, our leaders decided to revert to band custom so there would be no problems," said Fox.

He said past and present band councils have tried to consult with band members on election bylaws by holding public meetings in the community. "Only a few people showed up at these meetings," said Fox.

"I guess it would have saved a lot of trouble and second guessing if the people had more input in the election changes," he said.

Fox said he has instructed the Blood band's solicitor, Eugene Creighton, to explain the new election changes to any band member who asks.