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Blood Tribe passes Emergency Protection Bylaw

Apr 11, 2020 | 4:46 PM

STANDOFF, AB – The Blood Tribe Chief and Council have passed a new bylaw.

A release from Blood Tribe Communications & Community Engagement states the Emergency Protection Bylaw addressed the wellbeing of Blood Tribe members residing on the Blood Reserve during any type of emergency.

This includes the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The new bylaw went into effect this past week, on Thursday, April 9.

The full bylaw can be viewed here. The bylaw will allow members of Council to make regulations “from time to time” related to a number of emergency matters, for COVID-19 and any future emergency scenarios.

Regulations could include the operation of an emergency plan, the requirement of a curfew, funding for the reimbursement of costs, and control of traffic on the Blood Reserve.

In addition to the bylaw, the Blood Tribe has amended the current curfew that was put in place on March 30. Chief and Council issued the curfew as a way to slow traffic during the hours of 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

The previous curfew focused on Blood Tribe youth under the age of 18, but now extends to Blood Tribe members of all ages.

Details on the amended curfew can be viewed here.

In a release issued Saturday, Blood Tribe Councillor Dorothy First Rider stated that the bylaw allows Chief and Council to respond to health emergencies in a rapid, comprehensive and effective way to ensure the safety and well-being of the Blood Tribe community.