Coordinate inter-house relationships

Coordinate Inter-House Relationships

Coordination of inter-house relationships is a lawful function that preserves balance between Wilp (Waap).

No house governs another. Houses relate through law, protocol, and mutual recognition.

Principle

Inter-house coordination exists to:

• Prevent conflict
• Resolve overlapping responsibilities
• Maintain balance across territories
• Ensure Ayaawk is upheld collectively

Coordination does not replace house authority.

Basis of Coordination

Inter-house relationships are coordinated through:

• Witnessed protocol
• Adaawk and shared history
• Lawful agreement and consent
• Recognition of territorial boundaries and duties

Authority flows from houses, not over them.

Forms of Coordination

Coordination may include:

• Shared stewardship of lands or waters
• Trade and access agreements
• Dispute resolution processes
• Collective responses to harm or external pressure

Each house remains responsible within its own domain.

Limits

Inter-house coordination must not:

• Override a house’s Ayaawk
• Transfer authority without proper process
• Centralize power at the expense of houses
• Silence dissent or lawful objection

Coordination that becomes control is unlawful.

Role of Witnesses

Witnesses ensure that:

• Agreements are remembered
• Obligations are honored
• Boundaries are respected
• Violations are recognized

Without witnesses, coordination lacks legitimacy.

Modern Context

In modern settings, coordination includes:

• Councils and assemblies formed by houses
• Collective decision-making on shared impacts
• Unified responses to governments or corporations
• Refusal of imposed structures that bypass house consent

Modern coordination must remain answerable to house law.

Consequences of Breakdown

When inter-house coordination fails:

• Disputes may arise
• Responsibilities may be clarified or reassigned
• Lawful intervention may be required
• Restoration of balance becomes necessary

Law exists to restore relationship, not impose hierarchy.

Cross-References

• Wilp and Waap Governance
• Inter-House and Inter-Tribal Dispute Law*