Blood council rescinds four-year council terms

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BLOOD RESERVE - The Blood Tribe chief and council unanimously voted October 22 to rescind an amendment to hold a referendum during the November band elections on the new four year council terms.

In a telephone interview with Chief Roy Fox, he said council made the motion while a Blood protester's group occupied their council chambers to demand the withdrawal of the new amendment made in August.

Fox said council decided to hold a referendum because there were over 800 names on a petition who opposed the new four year system. The petition, which was circulated on the reserve for almost a month, was presented to Chief Fox during the occupation.

The new four year system which was to have been in effect after the new Blood council was elected in November calls for the sixth-highest vote-getters for council and the chief to be in office for four years. The four remaining highest vote getters for council would serve two year terms. But there would be an election every two years.

Chief Fox also said that council also rescinded an amendment which stated that 20 year olds will be entitled to vote. The voting age will remain at 21.

But Chief Fox said council will not resign as demanded by some of the protesters. He said there were only three Blood signatures on a written statement who wanted council to resign.

"The petition only referred to changes in the amendment (new election term.)" said Fox. Council voted in August in a closed session to change the election term and voting age under the election regulation in the Blood Tribe Custom Amended Bylaws.

Chief Fox said Council has appointed Martin Heavy Head as the chief electoral officer for the band nominations and elections. Heavy Head is a Native counsellor for the Native American Studies program at the University of Lethbridge. He served as the chief electoral office in the last Blood elections tow years ago.

Nominations for 12 councillors and one chief will be held November 3 from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Elections will be held November 27 from 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. according to the chief electoral officer. A meeting was held October 28 to inform band members about election rules and regulations.

He said Council will continue to carry out their duties and responsibilities until the results of the voting are tabulated. "If the people want the new four-year system or remain at the two-year system, we will follow it," said Chief Fox.

There are about 3,000 eligible voters on the Blood Reserve. it has a population of over 6,000 people.