Blood 148

Blood 148 is a First Nations reserve in Alberta, Canada. It is inhabited by the Blood (Kainai) First Nation and was established under the provisions of Treaty 7.^[2] This reserve is managed from the community of Stand Off on its northwest border and encompasses the majority of lands bounded by the cities of Fort MacLeod, Lethbridge and Cardston. It is traversed by Alberta Highway 2, Highway 5, and Highway 509. The St Mary River and the Belly River are major rivers supplying and draining the lands.

Blood 148
Indian reserve
Blood Indian Reserve No. 148
James Gladstone on his combine harvester
Location in Alberta
First Nation	Kainai Nation
Country	Canada
Province	Alberta
Municipal district	Cardston
Headquarters	Stand Off
Government
• Body	Blood Tribe Council
• Chief	Roy Fox
Area
• Total	1,413.87 km2 (545.90 sq mi)
Population  (2021)[1]
• Total	4,572
Time zone	UTC−7 (MST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−6 (MDT)
Highways	Highway 2
Website	bloodtribe.org

Levern Community.

At 1,413.87 km² (545.90 sq mi), the Blood 148 reserve is the largest reserve by land in Canada, and the third most populous after Six Nations and Akwesasne. On June 12, 2019, federal courts ruled that, according to the land entitlement provisions of Treaty 7, the Blood Tribe was entitled to a reserve equal to 710 square miles (1,800 km²) in area,^[3] an increase of 164.1 square miles (425 km²) over the existing lands. The judgement did not address remedy nor costs. It is located between the Cities of Fort MacLeod and Lethbridge and the Town of Cardston, bordering the Municipal District of Willow Creek No. 26 to the northwest, the Lethbridge County to the northeast and Cardston County to the east, south and southwest.

Demographics

In 2006, Blood 148 had a population of 4,177 living in 1,250 dwellings, an 8.4% increase from 2001. The Alberta Government lists the Blood 148 population at 4,713 in 2018. Prior to the June 12, 2019 award the Indian reserve land area was 1,413.87 km² (545.90 sq mi), with a population density of 3.0/km² (7.8/sq mi).^[4]

As of December 2013, the Blood 435 band, based on reserves 148 and 148A, had a total registered population of 11,791 per AANDC sources.^[5]

Government

Stand-Off community water tower

Under the Constitution Act, 1867, legislative authority over Indian reserves is placed exclusively with the national parliament and specifically Crown–Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada. The reserve is governed by a tribal council led by Chief Roy Fox (2016–present).^[6][7]

Blood Tribe Councillors (2019)^[8]

1. Dorothy First Rider (Itoomomaahkaa – Front Runner)
2. Floyd Big Head (Piitaika’tsis – Eagle Arrow)
3. Kyla Crow (Komiikakato’saakii – Round Star Woman)
4. Martin Heavy Head (Ponokaiksikksinamm – White Elk)
5. Joanne Lemieux (Aahkoyinnimaakii – Pipe Woman)
6. Robin Little Bear (Soyiikayaakii – Mink Woman)
7. Kirby Many Fingers (Apanssaapii – Counting Coup)
8. Hank Shade (Aapiisii – Coyote)
9. Lance Tailfeathers (Naatsikapoikkanaa – Two Stars Shining)
10. Tim Tailfeathers (Naato’kisikapiohkitopiyi – Rides Two Grey Horse)
11. Marcel Weasel Head (Niitsayoohkiitohkitopiyi)
12. Franklyn White Quills (Makoyaapii – Wolf Old Man)

See also

• Beverly Hungry Wolf, writer
• List of Indian reserves in Alberta