Colonial Drift and New “Made-Up Laws”

Colonial Drift and New “Made-Up Laws”

INITIATION DRAFT — This page introduces the issue of “colonial drift”: the slow replacement of Tsm’syen law with improvised, individual-made rules that do not come from the ayaawx, the wilp, or the feast system. This draft is a foundation only. It will be refined as more community voices and teachings are gathered.

Colonialism did not only change governments and land ownership — it also changed how some community members think about authority. Over time, new “laws” or rules have appeared that do not come from:

• the House,
• the ayaawx,
• the feast hall,
• or the proper lines of cultural authority.

These improvised rules often feel “Tsm’syen” on the surface, but their structure, intent, or enforcement reflect colonial thinking.

This drift produces confusion, conflict, and loss of alignment with true law.

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What Is Colonial Drift?

“Colonial drift” is when:

• outside ideas begin to feel normal,
• colonial systems quietly replace older teachings,
• individuals speak as if they carry House authority,
• or new rules are invented without cultural backing.

It happens slowly — not through big moments, but through small shifts in thinking.

Examples include:

• personal preferences spoken as if they were law,
• banning or allowing behaviours without House consensus,
• using Western logic to justify cultural decisions,
• enforcing rules without proper lineage authority.

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The Rise of “Made-Up Laws”

A “made-up law” is any rule that:

• has no feast history,
• is not tied to ayaawx,
• does not come from the wilp,
• was never passed down by House leaders or Elders.

Common examples in modern communities include:

• individuals declaring who “belongs” or does not belong,
• creating new categories of authority,
• setting rules for behaviour without lineage backing,
• policing names, clans, or relationships incorrectly,
• using fear or shame in non-traditional ways,
• mixing Christian or Western moral rules with Tsm’syen law and calling it “culture.”

These rules do not strengthen the people — they create confusion and cause division.

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Why Do Made-Up Laws Appear?

This often happens because of:

• colonial trauma,
• loss of Elders who carried the teachings,
• limited access to feast knowledge,
• community conflict,
• or Western systems that reward individual authority.

People may not intend harm. Sometimes they believe they are protecting culture — but without proper grounding, they create tension and misinformation.

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Impact on Youth and Cultural Understanding

When youth hear conflicting “laws,” they:

• lose trust in cultural knowledge,
• don’t know which voice to follow,
• cannot tell real teachings from invented ones,
• and sometimes become afraid of culture instead of walking toward it.

This damages:

• identity,
• belonging,
• and the continuity of true Tsm’syen law.

Youth need clarity — not noise.

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Differences Between Ayaawx and Colonial Rules

True ayaawx is:

• consistent across generations,
• tied to land and names,
• carried by Houses,
• witnessed in feasts,
• balanced and relational.

Made-up laws are:

• inconsistent,
• based on personal mood or conflict,
• not tied to lineage authority,
• not witnessed,
• often based on fear or control.

Ayaawx binds a community. Made-up laws fracture it.

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Signs That a Rule Is Not Traditional

A rule is likely colonial or invented if:

• no Elder recognizes it,
• it cannot be traced to feast knowledge,
• it appears suddenly,
• it benefits one individual,
• it controls instead of teaches,
• it causes more shame than healing,
• or it contradicts known lineage teachings.

These are red flags that something is drifting away from true law.

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Restoring Alignment with True Ayaawx

This INIT draft leaves room for deeper teachings later. Future expansions may include:

• examples from Elders about proper correction,
• discussions about restoring feast knowledge,
• ways to help youth understand the difference,
• strategies for healing confusion caused by drift,
• and historical reasons why the drift happened in the first place.

The goal is not to attack individuals but to restore clarity and strength in our cultural foundations.

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Notes on Evolution

This page will be revisited after more posts, comments, and Elder insights are reviewed. Small word changes will not trigger rewrites. A full rewrite occurs only when enough knowledge has accumulated to require a deeper, more accurate version.