View source for Elders clarify meaning when law is unclear or contested

= Elders Clarify Meaning of Law =
Category: Tsm’syen Law  
Page status: Working

== Purpose ==
This page records the role of elders in clarifying the meaning of law when its application is unclear or contested.

Clarification preserves continuity of ayaawx and does not constitute the creation of new law.

== Principle ==
Elders clarify meaning when law is unclear or contested.

== Nature of Clarification ==
Clarification is interpretive, not legislative.

Elders:
* Explain meaning through ayaawx and adaawx
* Recall precedent and witnessed practice
* Address ambiguity without altering law
* Maintain continuity across generations

Elders do not:
* Create new law
* Override existing ayaawx
* Act unilaterally
* Replace house or clan authority

== Sources of Authority ==
Clarification is grounded in:
* Ayaawx
* Adaawx
* Witnessed practice
* Conduct over time

Authority arises through recognition, not position.

== When Clarification Is Invoked ==
Clarification may occur when:
* Law is disputed or contested
* Application is unclear in new circumstances
* External systems create confusion
* Meaning has been weakened or challenged

Clarification restores understanding rather than imposing outcomes.

== Relationship to Decision-Making ==
Clarification does not equal final decision-making.

Following clarification:
* Houses and clans act within clarified law
* Responsibility remains with proper authority
* Witnesses continue recognition

== Modern Context ==
In contemporary settings, elder clarification:
* Prevents misinterpretation through external legal frameworks
* Guards against legal drift and erosion
* Maintains Indigenous legal order alongside modern systems

== Cross-References ==
* [[Elders as Interpreters of Law]]
* [[Ayaawx]]
* [[Adaawx]]
* [[Legal Memory]]
* [[Witnessing and Recognition]]
* [[Limits on Authority]]
* [[House and Clan Governance]]