Are There Better Options to Settle the Blood Tribe Farm Land Disputes than Going Through the Courts? (Part 1)

Two recent disputes about who are entitled to farm Blood Tribe agricultural land have ended up in Federal and Provincial Court respectively. Chief and Council of the Blood Band arguable has sole authority to decide who farm within the reserve, and on land that is “held in common” for all band members. Others argue that a more collaborative approach may better serve the Band as a whole. This panel discussion will attempt to shed light from different perspectives on the many issues involved and also touch upon to what degree relationships with previous land renters should be considered in the context of signing new agreements. Panel members: Rep. from Blood Tribe Chief and Council, Lois Frank and Eugene Fox No bio available for the representative from the Blood Tribe Chief and Council Lois V. Frank, B.Sc. M.A. Ph.D. Candidate – Gonzaga University is a member of the Blood Tribe and is completing a Ph.D. in Environmental Justice from Gonzaga University in Washington. Lois has worked as a Lecturer in the Native American Studies Dept. at the University of Lethbridge. Prior to that, she taught in the Criminal Justice Program at Lethbridge College. Lois has received many certificates for her achievements including the Alberta Jubilee Medallion from the Alberta Solicitor General and is a past Chairperson for the Blood Tribe Police Commission. In 2011, Lois received the Environmental Activist of the Year Award from the Council of Canadians and is currently a National Board member of that organization. She was recently part of a group that won a Federal Court decision regarding land occupant rights on the Blood Reserve. Eugene Fox is a fourth-generation farmer who started farming in 1960s with his father Floyd Fox on the Blood Reserve prairie land acquired from other Blood Reserve land occupants. From the 1960s until 2013, Eugene and his father developed land & engaged in farming grain products and hay production. In February 2013 Floyd Fox passed away and Eugene continued to occupy and farm the land in accordance with his father's wishes. Concurrent with farming operations, Eugene established Fox Trucking in 1982, a trucking business in which he and his father worked together until 2013. From 2004-08, Eugene Fox hauled crude oil from wells on the Blood Reserve to terminals in southern Alberta. Eugene Fox is a member of the Blood Band and the customary Many Children Clan and Many White Horses Band of Aaapaitsitapi (Weasel People), whose existence supercedes the Blood Band, a 1936 creation of the Indian Act. Moderator: Jim Byrne Date:Tuesday, June 10, 2014 Time: 7:00 – 9:00 pm Location: Room PE275, First Choice Saving Centre, University of Lethbridge Free event, free parking, everyone welcome Visit the SACPA website: http://www.sacpa.ca