Regular review and renewal through Elders and houses
Regular Review and Renewal through Elders and Houses
Ts’msyen law remains strong through regular review and renewal carried out by Elders and houses (*wilp*). This process ensures that *ayaawx* remains living, balanced, and responsive without losing continuity or authority.
Review is not a sign of weakness; it is a responsibility.
Foundational Understanding
Ayaawx is living law.
Living law requires:
- reflection
- reaffirmation
- correction when needed
- renewal through lawful authority
Law that is never reviewed risks stagnation or misuse.
Role of Elders
Elders are central to review and renewal.
They:
- recall adaawx and precedent
- assess whether principles are being upheld
- guide correction where imbalance appears
- protect interpretive integrity
- consider long-term and intergenerational impact
Elders do not rewrite law; they safeguard it.
Role of the Wilp
Wilp carry responsibility for lived practice.
Each wilp:
- reflects on how law is being applied
- raises concerns when imbalance arises
- participates in renewal through discussion and witness
- corrects internal conduct
- reaffirms stewardship obligations
Renewal begins where law is lived.
Timing and Rhythm of Review
Review occurs:
- at feasts and gatherings
- during moments of transition
- after significant harm or dispute
- when new circumstances arise
- across generations
Review follows the rhythm of community life, not rigid schedules.
Forms of Review
Review and renewal may take many forms, including:
- public discussion guided by Elders
- feast acknowledgment of continuity
- clarification of responsibilities
- reaffirmation of principles
- correction of misapplied rulings
- ceremonial renewal of obligations
Form follows need.
Renewal Without Erasure
Renewal does not erase the past.
It:
- builds on precedent
- respects earlier rulings
- corrects without denial
- strengthens continuity
Past guidance remains relevant unless lawfully corrected.
Relationship to Recorded Knowledge
Recorded materials support review but do not control it.
During renewal:
- written records may be consulted
- oral knowledge prevails
- lived practice is weighed
- Elder guidance directs outcome
Records assist memory; they do not decide law.
Witness and Accountability
Renewal gains authority through witness.
Witness:
- confirms shared understanding
- marks continuity
- holds decision-makers accountable
- prevents quiet drift in meaning
Unwitnessed renewal lacks standing.
Protection Against Drift and Capture
Regular review:
- prevents gradual reinterpretation
- resists external pressure
- identifies imbalance early
- preserves Ts’msyen authority
Renewal is a form of protection.
Responsibility to Future Generations
Review and renewal are carried out with future generations in mind.
The goal is to:
- leave law clear but flexible
- preserve authority without freezing meaning
- ensure young people inherit living guidance
What is renewed today becomes tomorrow’s foundation.
Living Continuity
Through regular review and renewal by Elders and houses:
- ayaawx remains whole
- authority remains grounded
- law remains adaptable
- the Nation remains strong
Continuity is maintained not by fixing law in place, but by caring for it over time.