External relations are conducted
External Relations Are Conducted
Tsm’syen law governs how the Nation engages with external peoples, governments, and entities.
External relations are conducted deliberately, lawfully, and without surrender of internal authority.
Meaning
External relations include interactions with:
- Other Indigenous Nations
- Foreign governments and Crown actors
- Corporations and institutions
- Religious, academic, or non-governmental organizations
- Any entity outside Tsm’syen jurisdiction
Engagement does not imply subordination. Dialogue does not imply consent.
Legal Principle
The Nation speaks outward without silencing its houses.
External relations must:
- Respect house and territorial authority
- Reflect articulated shared Ayaawk
- Be consistent with internal law and responsibility
- Preserve the right of internal correction
No external agreement may override Tsm’syen law.
Authority to Engage
Authority to conduct external relations:
- Is derived from houses and communities
- Is specific in scope and purpose
- Is time-bound and revocable
- Must be witnessed and recorded
No individual or body holds permanent or personal authority to bind the Nation.
Limits
External relations may not be used to:
- Centralize authority internally
- Bypass house consent
- Commit future generations without recourse
- Convert dialogue into surrender
- Replace law with policy or convenience
Any such action is unlawful under Ayaawk.
Protection Against Capture
Unlawful external engagement results in:
- Loss of internal legitimacy
- Misrepresentation of authority
- Exposure to external reinterpretation
- Erosion of house and community autonomy
Clear limits protect both the Nation and its representatives.
Continuity
External relations must preserve future freedom of action.
Through lawful conduct:
- The Nation remains self-determining
- Relationships remain reciprocal
- Agreements remain correctable
- Authority remains internal
The Nation endures by choosing how it is known.