Bloods form splinter group

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Self-government and independence are still hot topics in Native communities, despite the defeat of the referendum. But on southern Alberta's Blood reserve, the terms may be taken on a new meaning.

About 600 members of the tribe have recently signed petitions asking for independence from the Blood band itself, with the intention of setting up their own Mohk-e-saun (Red Clay) band.

"We want to go back to a more traditional style of government, based on our heritage and clan divisions," says Keith Chiefmoon, one of the leaders of the group.

Chiefmoon says he and the other members of the tribe promoting the Mohk-e-saun

idea are fed up with what they feel has been more than 20 years of mismanagement, misrepresentation and lack of leadership. But they're also very concerned about the loss of their cultural and linguistic heritage.

"We have to do something to ensure that we don't become culturally extinct," says Chiefmoon. "That means going back to our own language and our traditional ways of organizing and governing our people."

Chiefmoon, who was at one time a member of the Blood tribal council, says the Indian Act specifically grants the federal government the right to constitute new bands, if they are requested to do so by members of the community.

Addison Crow, another of the group's leaders, also served on the Blood tribe council for two terms but says he was ousted in 1982 for speaking out on what he felt were gross inequities in the system.

"They said I ruined the dignity of the council, but I can't see that they had much dignity," Crow said. "So many of the people working on council and administration are completely unqualified and almost illiterate. And they have no accountability to the people."

Both men say the recent ban on referendum voting by Chief Roy Fox is typical

of the problem.

"Chief Fox never even bothered to explain to band members why he wouldn't allow voting on the reserve, much less ask for the opinion of the band members," says Chiefmoon.

"He should have called a band meeting, so everyone could share their ideas. It's been more than 10 years since we had a real band meeting here. I think the last one was

in 1981, on the constitution."

Crow and Chiefmoon say they'll use the legal injunctions of the Indian Act to help them establish their first assembly and give them the mandate to govern band members. Then they'll set up a constitution, based on the traditional leadership of a head chief and minor chiefs.

"We'll get together with all the members of the new band and look at our options and objectives," says Chiefmoon. "We want to establish a government that operates from the bottom up, not the top down."

The Mokh-e-saun committee has a long list of grievances with current band administration, including an $18 million debt and a $3.3 million dollar deficit at the end of the 1991 fiscal year.

"We've got 95 per cent unemployment on the reserve," Crow says.

"There's no work, no money - students at Red Crow College were ordered to

take time out from their classes to write letters to the minister pleading for money, so they could finish their studies."