Ayaawx mandates for respectful relations with the environment
Forest, Plant, and Animal Obligations
Under Ts’msyen law, forests, plants, and animals are living relations. They are governed by obligations arising from *ayaawx* and carried through stewardship, conduct, and accountability.
These obligations regulate how people take, tend, protect, and restore life so that balance is maintained for present and future generations.
Foundational Understanding
Forests, plants, and animals are not commodities.
Obligation includes:
- respect for life
- restraint in taking
- care for regeneration
- accountability for harm
- continuity across generations
Taking without responsibility violates ayaawx.
Forest Obligations
Forests provide shelter, medicine, tools, and balance.
Obligations to forests include:
- taking only what is needed
- avoiding waste and unnecessary destruction
- protecting old growth and regeneration areas
- respecting named and restricted places
- preventing fire, erosion, and long-term damage
Forests are teachers of patience and continuity.
Plant Obligations
Plants are providers of food, medicine, and knowledge.
Obligations include:
- proper harvesting methods
- respect for seasonal timing
- leaving enough for regeneration
- honoring plants used for medicine and ceremony
- teaching correct identification and use
Improper harvesting harms both land and people.
Animal Obligations
Animals are fellow beings with whom humans share territory.
Obligations include:
- respectful hunting and trapping practices
- taking life only when necessary
- avoiding waste or cruelty
- honoring animals through proper conduct and use
- protecting breeding and migration patterns
Animals offer themselves under law, not entitlement.
Relationship Between Forest, Plant, and Animal Law
These obligations are interconnected.
Forests support plants. Plants support animals. Animals support the people.
Harm to one affects all.
Role of the Wilp
Wilp carry primary responsibility for upholding these obligations.
Each wilp:
- stewards specific lands and resources
- teaches lawful conduct to its members
- regulates access and use
- answers for harm caused by misuse
- participates in restoration when imbalance occurs
Stewardship is authority.
Some forests, plant areas, and animal ranges are shared.
In these cases:
- cooperation is required
- protocol governs access
- overuse is restrained collectively
- disputes are resolved through law
Shared responsibility strengthens protection.
Restoration After Harm
When forests, plants, or animals are harmed:
- responsibility must be acknowledged
- corrective action must be taken
- restoration may be required
- ceremony may be needed to restore balance
Ignoring harm deepens imbalance.
Teaching Obligation
These obligations are taught through:
- observation and apprenticeship
- adaawx and lived example
- participation in harvesting and care
- correction and guidance
Youth learn law by how life is treated.
Living Relationship
Forest, plant, and animal obligations are living law.
They endure through:
- respectful use
- restraint and care
- public accountability
- restoration after harm
- intergenerational teaching
When obligations are upheld, life continues. When they are ignored, imbalance follows.