Principles of honesty, respect, and transparency
Principles of Honesty, Respect, and Transparency
Honesty, respect, and transparency are not optional values within Ts’msyen law. They are **required principles of conduct** that sustain *ayaawx*, protect relationships, and ensure that authority remains lawful.
Without these principles, law cannot function.
Foundational Understanding
Ts’msyen law is relational.
Because law governs relationships between:
- people
- houses and clans
- land and waters
- past, present, and future generations
it depends on conduct that maintains trust, clarity, and accountability.
Honesty, respect, and transparency are the conditions that allow law to work.
Honesty
Honesty under Ts’msyen law means more than truth-telling.
It includes:
- speaking accurately and without distortion
- not withholding material information
- not creating false impressions through silence
- acknowledging limits of authority or knowledge
- correcting errors when discovered
Dishonesty breaches law even when it avoids immediate conflict.
Respect
Respect is a legal obligation, not a courtesy.
It requires:
- recognizing proper authority and role
- observing protocol and boundaries
- listening before speaking
- restraining action where consent is required
- honoring Elders, name holders, and witnesses
- respecting land, waters, and non-human beings
Disrespect weakens both law and relationship.
Transparency
Transparency ensures accountability.
Under Ts’msyen law, transparency involves:
- making intentions known where they affect others
- disclosing impacts and risks
- explaining decisions when authority is exercised
- allowing space for questions and correction
- avoiding hidden agreements or quiet drift
Opacity invites imbalance.
Relationship Between the Three
Honesty, respect, and transparency work together.
- Honesty without respect becomes harm.
- Respect without honesty becomes deception.
- Transparency without restraint becomes exposure.
Balanced together, they protect law.
Application in Decision-Making
These principles guide decision-making by:
- houses and name holders
- Elders and advisors
- representatives engaging externally
- those gathering or recording knowledge
Decisions made without these principles lack legitimacy.
Role in Consent and Agreement
Lawful consent requires:
- honest disclosure
- respectful process
- transparent terms
Consent obtained through pressure, omission, or confusion is invalid under ayaawx.
Accountability and Witness
These principles are enforced through:
- public witness
- feast acknowledgment
- correction and clarification
- reputational consequence
- withdrawal of trust or authority where required
Accountability preserves integrity.
Protection Against Misuse
Honesty, respect, and transparency protect against:
- manipulation of process
- selective disclosure
- misrepresentation of authority
- external reinterpretation
- internal erosion of trust
They are defensive principles as much as ethical ones.
Teaching These Principles
Youth are taught these principles through:
- example
- correction
- participation in lawful process
- observation of consequence
They learn that authority without these principles is unlawful.
Relationship to Modern Systems
When engaging modern institutions:
- honesty prevents misrepresentation
- respect maintains Ts’msyen protocol
- transparency prevents quiet surrender
These principles govern engagement without subordination.
Living Principles
These principles are living.
They must be:
- practiced daily
- renewed through correction
- reaffirmed through witness
- protected from erosion
When they weaken, law weakens.
Continuity
By upholding honesty, respect, and transparency:
- ayaawx remains trustworthy
- authority remains legitimate
- relationships remain intact
- future generations inherit clarity
Law endures where conduct remains clean.