Elder authority is relational, not positional
Elder Authority Is Relational, Not Positional
Statement
Elder authority is relational, not positional.
Meaning
In Tsm’syen law, elder authority does not arise from holding a title, office, or role.
It arises from relationships built over time through trust, conduct, knowledge, and accountability.
Authority exists between people, not inside positions.
Relational authority
Relational authority is formed through:
- Ongoing relationships within the community
- Witnessed conduct over time
- Shared legal memory
- Mutual recognition
- Accountability to others
It depends on continued recognition. It cannot be separated from relationship.
Positional authority
Positional authority refers to authority claimed through:
- Offices
- Titles
- Committees
- Appointments
- Organizational roles
Such positions may carry responsibilities, but they do not create elder authority.
When position replaces relationship, legitimacy weakens.
Why this distinction matters
Separating authority from position:
- Prevents capture of elder authority by institutions
- Protects elders from being used as political tools
- Ensures authority remains accountable
- Allows elders outside leadership roles to retain voice
- Prevents silence through removal from office
Office may end. Relationship continues only while conduct remains lawful.
Recognition and withdrawal
Because elder authority is relational:
- It grows through continued trust
- It weakens when trust is broken
- It may be withdrawn without conflict
- It does not require formal removal
Witnesses determine recognition through memory and observation.
Relationship to law
Relational authority operates within:
- Ayaawx
- Adaawx
- Lawful limits
- Accountability before witnesses
No relationship creates exemption from law.
Cross-references
- Elders May Exist Within or Outside Formal Leadership Roles
- Elders Are Recognized Through Age, Experience, and Conduct
- Elder Recognition Is Witnessed Over Time
- Authority Arises from Trust, Conduct, and Knowledge
- Elders Operate Within, Not Above, Tsm’syen Law
- Interpretation Does Not Equal Unilateral Decision-Making
- Witnesses and Public Memory
- Limits on Authority