Blood band avoids election violence

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Elections of a new chief and council on Canada's largest reserve passed peacefully despite earlier rumors of violence from a splinter group upset with the band's management.

Former chief Roy Fox was soundly defeated at the polls, ending his 10-year career as leader of the southern Alberta reserve, gaining a mere 10 per cent of the popular vote.

Harley Frank, 43, was elected chief of the 7,000-member band and began his tenure reaching out to the Mohk-e-saun breakaway group.

"Mohk-e-saun is a symptom of the trouble we have to deal with. But it's critical that we retain all the members of the tribe. We need everyone to stay in the circle and give us their ideas."

About 600 members of the Blood tribe broke away and formed the Mohk-e-saun band earlier this year. Keith Chief Moon, a spokesman for the group, said many reserve residents are fed up the council's $3.3 million deficit and lack of public financial accountability.

In the days leading up to last week's election, Chief Moon warned that some Mokh-s-saun wanted to step beyond the group's boycott of the vote and take up an

armed protest.

"A lot of our youth think it's the only route to get attention," he said in an pre-election interview. "Our diplomacy is running out. Some youth have suggested a coup."

After Fox's defeat, Chief Moon said the group will continue with plans to petition Ottawa for band status, but saw glimmers of hope for change.

"We need to change the whole system," he said. "Traditionally we have had more than one chief for our peoples...Our members want to see the different changes than the one Harley is talking about."

Fox, who helped lead the anti-Charlottetown campaign in Alberta by banning the referendum vote on the reserve, has not commented to media about criticisms of his administration.

Frank, who won 27 per cent of the popular vote, wants to develop the band's agricultural resources, including investment in a buffalo herd and the creation of an agri-business plan.

With files from windspeaker Contributor Barb Grinder.