| Blood 148 | |
| Official Name: | Blood Indian Reserve No. 148 |
| Settlement Type: | Indian reserve |
| Subdivision Type: | First Nation |
| Subdivision Name: | Kainai Nation |
| Subdivision Type1: | Country |
| Subdivision Name1: | Canada |
| Subdivision Type2: | Province |
| Subdivision Name2: | Alberta |
| Subdivision Type3: | Municipal district |
| Subdivision Name3: | Cardston |
| Seat Type: | Headquarters |
| Seat: | Stand Off |
| Governing Body: | Blood Tribe Council |
| Leader Title: | Chief |
| Leader Name: | Roy Fox |
| Area Total Km2: | 1413.87 |
| Population Total: | 4,572 |
| Population As Of: | 2021 |
| Population Footnotes: | [1] |
| Leader Title3: | MLA |
| Timezone: | MST |
| Utc Offset: | −7 |
| Timezone Dst: | MDT |
| Utc Offset Dst: | −6 |
| Blank Name: | Highways |
| Blank Info: | Highway 2 |
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.
At 1413.87km2, this is the largest reserve 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 in area,[3] an increase of 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.
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 1413.87km2, with a population density of 3/km2.[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]
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]