By Sam Borsato - @BorsatoSam on Twitter

High price to pay to keep drugs away from Blood Indian Reserve

Mar 31, 2017 | 11:49 AM

BLOOD INDIAN RESERVE – Keeping non-members from trespassing on the Blood Indian Reserve may come with a shocking price tag.

Blood Tribe Chief and Council said in a media release on March 22, 2017 that it will enforce a trespass bylaw and regulations in an effort to minimize drug activity and maintain community safety. The new rules are set to come in to effect on April 13.

Councillor Dorothy First Rider had said in an past interview with Lethbridge News Now that it seems like a good starting point.

“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 required for all non-Blood Tribe members, since members already have the right to be on reserve land.

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But according to a price chart (shown above), you could be paying more for it than you might think.

Private businesses and professional firms are the hardest hit, faced with a $2000 annual fee. Trades people, contractors, lawyers, accountants, health care providers, engineers as well as Blood Tribe administration employees and entities will have to come up with $500 per year.

Seasonal and specific purpose entry permits will be available for non-member hunters, trades people entering the reserve for a specific project and agricultural operations that are in accordance with section 28(2) of the Indian Act. Day permits can also be purchased for $50 per day or $250 per month, for those conducting lawful activities.

Applications for all entry permits must be submitted to the lands management department.

Residential permits can be acquired through the membership department for any non-Blood Tribe member spouses, children or grandchildren under 18-years old living on the reserve, at $25 annually per person. However, permits may be cancelled “if a person acts in a manner that is not in the best interests of the Blood Tribe, including causing damage to persons or property or engaging in unlawful activities.”

Those solely attending public activities already authorized by Council, like hockey games, rodeos, pow wows, school events or local business, will not need to apply for any permits.

The original media release stated that the purpose of the trespass bylaw 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.

Once enacted, Blood Tribe police will have the authority to remove and charge anyone on reserve land who cannot prove that they are a member, or produce a valid permit.

Lethbridge News Now has reached out to Blood Tribe Council, administration and the lands department multiple times from March 29 to 31 for a comment on the pricing. At this time, no one has replied to our requests.