Harley Frank

Harley Frank is a member of the Kainai Nation in southern Alberta, Canada.[1] Frank has held a number of notable positions within the Kainai Nation's administration, including being elected Chief, in 1992.[2]

Frank v. Bottle

Frank was elected Chief of the Kainai Nation in 1992.[1][3][4] Although he was elected other members of the band council worked to get him removed from office. The legal battle was heard in Canada's federal court, in Frank v. Bottle. The court ruled in Frank's favor. But he decided to step aside.

The publication Wind Speaker noted:[1]

"While other laws, regulations and the government policy of respecting the inherent right of First Nations to govern themselves have made it more difficult for grassroots members to demand and receive access to council information and enforce accountability, the judge's decision in Frank v. Bottle states without question that band councils are federal boards that are subject to Canadian law. That allows recourse to grassroots members to appeal council decisions that are seen as arbitrary or unfair."

September 15, 1999 conviction

On September 26, 1996 Frank shipped half a truckload of Barley, that had been grown on his Reserve, in a native owned truck, to a buyer in the nearby Blackfoot Reservation in Montana.[5] Frank was charged with exporting grain without a valid export license.[6] Frank was convicted, and received an absolute discharge, on September 15, 1999.[7] Garry Brietkreuz, a Canadian Member of Parliament, contrasting Frank's discharge with the sentences other farmer's received, noted:

"However, Frank was given an absolute discharge because Justice Stevens-Guille didn’t think he was selling the grain to make a profit, but was doing it to challenge the current law."

Frank's 2005 run for Chief

Frank ran for Chief again, in 2005. Frank was not elected Chief, but as one of the runners-up with the most votes, he won a seat on the Band Council.[8][9]

Frank appeared before the Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples on October 27, 2005.[10]

Founding member of the Blood Band chapter of the Council of Canadians

In 2015 Frank joined with other Band Members in calling for Band Councilors to be more transparent about their expenses.[11][12][13][14][15][16]

References
  1. Paul Barnsley (February 1, 2005). "Prominent figure returns to band politics". Wind Speaker. Retrieved 2007-11-13.
  2. "Natives seek joint ventures". Toronto Star. 1992-05-04. p. B.2. Retrieved 2013-01-08. Others said band corporations and joint ventures were next to impossible unless the reserve was wealthy. But Harley Frank, economic development co-ordinator for the Blood Indians of southern Alberta, said that every band has some income.
  3. David Leyton-Brown (1993). Canadian annual review of politics and public affairs. University of Toronto Press. ISBN 978-0-8020-4701-4.
  4. Ken Zontek (2007-05-16). Buffalo nation: American Indian efforts to restore the bison. University of Nebraska Press. ISBN 978-0-8032-9922-1.
  5. Barb Grinder (December 1, 1996). "Blood (Indian) barley farmer challenges (Canadian Wheat) board.: An article from: Wind Speaker". Wind Speaker. Retrieved 2007-11-14.
  6. Joh Dyck (June 23, 1997). "June 23, 1997 meeting in Ottawa with Revenue Canada, Justice Canada and the CWB regarding illegal grain export cases and the upcoming Andy 500". Revenue Canada. Retrieved 2007-11-14.
  7. "Are There Two Types Of Justice For Canadian Farmers?". garrybrietzkreuz.com. September 23, 1999. Retrieved 2007-11-14.
  8. "Feds Visit Blood Reserve". Blood Tribe Administration Review. January 2007. p. 1. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-11-06. Retrieved 2007-11-14.
  9. Harley Frank (January 2007). "Kainai Industries Truss Machine update". Blood Tribe Administration Review. p. 4. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-11-06. Retrieved 2007-11-14.
  10. "Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples". Parliament of Canada. October 27, 2005. Retrieved 2007-11-14.
  11. Carrie Tait (2015-08-28). "Critics blast Alberta's Blood Tribe leaders for salaries, expenses". Calgary: The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2016-11-26. "The salaries should match the governance structure," Mr. Frank said, arguing it "doesn't make sense" that the politicians are paid more than $90,000 to govern an on-reserve population of about 7,000.
  12. "Blood Tribe chapter seeks transparent and accountable band council governance". Council of Canadians. 2016-09-19. Retrieved 2016-11-26.
  13. "Questions surround Blood Tribe Council compensation". Global News. Retrieved 2016-11-27.
  14. "Blood Tribe man ignores injunction, farms land". Global News. Retrieved 2016-11-27.
  15. "Spending transparency should accompany new money for First Nations, say critics". Vancouver Sun. Retrieved 2016-11-27.
  16. "Frank, Frank & MacKay: First Nations leaders benefit from transparency". National Post. Retrieved 2016-11-27.
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