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Blood Tribe focusing on community safety with new trespassing rules

Mar 22, 2017 | 4:47 PM

BLOOD INDIAN RESERVE – The Blood Tribe Council says they will be enforcing trespassing bylaws in an effort to minimize drug activity and maintain community safety.

In a media release Wednesday (Mar. 22) afternoon, Council announced that the Kainai/Blood Tribe trespass bylaw and regulations will come in to effect on April 13, 2017.
 
Councillor Dorothy First Rider explained in an interview with Lethbridge News Now that a state of emergency was declared on the reserve around a year and a half ago, in recognition of a significant jump in overdose deaths. At that time, a 24-hour hotline was setup for residents to report any suspected drug activity, but First Rider says Blood Tribe Police still urged Council for “a legal leg to stand on” to better address the root of the problem.
 
She says the new regulations seem like a good starting point for now.
 
“When a nation is faced with a crisis, it takes a lot then to enable something like an initiative, such as the trespass bylaw. We have been assisting our residents in seeking some kind of opportunity to rehabilitate themselves. However, we are up against the illegal drug activity [with] people coming on to the reserve and selling drugs to
our vulnerable members.”

Two types of permits — residential and entry — will be made available to all non-Blood Tribe members, since members already have the right to be on reserve land.

Residential permits will be required for any non-member spouses, children or grandchildren under 18-years old living on the reserve. Entry permits can be applied for annual, seasonal, specific or day purposes, for those conducting lawful activities.
 
First Rider couldn’t give any specific numbers, but confirmed there will be a small fee to obtain a permit.

Those looking to attend activities that have already been authorized by Council, like hockey games, rodeos, pow wows, school events or local business, will not need to apply for any permits.

Once the rules are enacted next month, Blood Tribe police will have the authority to remove and charge anyone on the Blood Indian Reserve who cannot prove that they are a tribe member, or produce a valid permit.
 
First Rider explained that officers will be allowed to pull people over, and are required to use their own discretion when requesting permits.

Wednesday’s media release went on to state that the purpose is “not to punish or control those persons who are invited into the reserve and are not creating problems.” Instead, it’s a method of identifying those who do not have such permission.
 
“Unfortunately, when it comes to drugs, people do tend to be very creative,” First Rider added, when asked if Council was concerned that the drug problem would simply be moved elsewhere.
 
“But at least this will give us an opportunity to minimize and hopefully to discourage people from coming on to the reserve and selling drugs to our members.”

The bylaw and regulations will be posted on the Blood Tribe Council website by April 3, including all of the specific requirements for applying and holding a permit.