Participation may include ceremony, feasts, work, and discussion

Forms of Participation

Category: Tsm’syen Law Page status: Working

Purpose

This page records the principle that participation in governance and law occurs through multiple forms of communal life. It recognizes ceremony, feasts, work, and discussion as lawful contexts for learning and responsibility.

This page is descriptive and does not assign authority, offices, or leadership roles.

Principle

Participation may include ceremony, feasts, work, and discussion.

Meaning

• Participation is not limited to formal decision-making.
• Law is learned and reinforced through lived involvement.
• Different forms of participation prepare individuals in different ways.

Ceremony

• Ceremony teaches law through protocol, roles, and witness.
• Ceremony reinforces names, relationships, and responsibility.
• Participation in ceremony builds respect and continuity.

Feasts

• Feasts are public forums of law, recognition, and accountability.
• Witnessing at feasts teaches consequence and obligation.
• Feasts connect governance to community memory.

Work

• Work teaches responsibility, cooperation, and conduct.
• Shared labor grounds law in daily practice.
• Accountability is learned through contribution and follow-through.

Discussion

• Discussion allows questioning, clarification, and reflection.
• Law is examined through dialogue and explanation.
• Discussion supports understanding before authority is exercised.

Integration

• These forms operate together, not in isolation.
• Participation increases with readiness and trust.
• Each form contributes to lawful preparation.

Limits

• Participation does not imply decision-making authority.
• Observation and involvement precede formal responsibility.
• Readiness is determined through conduct and guidance.

Cross References

• Youth Learn Governance Through Witnessing
• Forms of Teaching
• Ongoing and Contextual Learning
• Transmission of Law
• Youth and the Future Line
• Continuity and Transmission
• The Future Line
• Ayaawx
• Adaawx

To Be Developed

• Examples of participation in each form
• House- and clan-specific practices
• Contemporary participation settings
• Source citations