Restoring relationships rather than casting people away
Restoring Relationships Rather Than Casting People Away
In Ts’msyen law, the purpose of accountability is **restoration**, not exclusion. When harm occurs, the goal is to **repair relationships, correct conduct, and restore balance**, rather than to permanently cast people away.
Exile and severance are measures of last resort. Restoration is the preferred path where responsibility is acknowledged and correction is possible.
Foundational Principle
People are not discarded for failure.
Law seeks to:
- transform harm into learning
- restore dignity to all parties
- reintegrate those who accept responsibility
- protect the integrity of the community
Casting people away weakens continuity.
Understanding Harm as Relational
Harm in Ts’msyen law is understood as relational.
It affects:
- individuals
- houses (*wilp*)
- clans (*pdeex*)
- future generations
Because harm ripples outward, repair must also be relational.
Accountability Without Exclusion
Accountability does not require removal from community.
Instead, it requires:
- acknowledgment of harm
- acceptance of responsibility
- willingness to repair
- openness to correction
Remaining within relationship allows law to function.
Role of the Wilp
The wilp bears responsibility for its members.
When a member causes harm, the wilp:
- intervenes
- guides correction
- organizes compensation
- supports reintegration
- ensures accountability is upheld
A wilp does not abandon its members lightly.
Role of Elders
Elders guide restoration.
They:
- assess sincerity
- recall precedent
- guide proportional response
- protect against humiliation or retaliation
- determine when balance is restored
Their role is to heal law, not to punish.
Role of Ceremony and Feast
Restoration is completed through ceremony.
Ceremony:
- publicly acknowledges harm
- witnesses accountability
- confirms compensation
- restores dignity
- reopens relationship
Without ceremony, restoration remains incomplete.
Time, Patience, and Process
Restoration is not instant.
It may require: