Respecting Our Keyohs
Recognition, Harmony, and the
Customary Law of the Dakelh Keyoh System
The Keyoh and Its Leader
The Keyoh is an ancestral territory held by an extended family under Dakelh law.
Its Keyohwhuduchun (Keyoh Holder) is the family’s recognized leader and caretaker, responsible for guiding the people, managing the land, and maintaining the well-being of all who belong to it.
This title is hereditary and sacred. It is traditionally passed from one generation to the next — often to the first male child or another family member chosen for their ability to lead with wisdom, humility, and respect. Through each succession, the family’s connection to the land and its responsibilities remain unbroken.
Respect Between Keyohs
Across Dakelh territory, Keyoh Holders and their families continue an ancient practice of mutual recognition and respect.
Each family honours the authority, title, and boundaries of neighbouring Keyohs, maintaining peace, balance, and cooperation.
This recognition strengthens community ties and supports both social and trade relations. Over generations, neighbouring Keyohs have formed lasting alliances, sharing resources and mutual aid in both times of peace and hardship.
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“Respect between Keyohs ensures peace among families and harmony with the land.”
Stewardship and Consent
Every Keyohwhuduchun serves as the chief steward and custodian of their family’s territory.
Their leadership ensures that the land, plants, animals, and people are cared for in accordance with Dakelh law.
Permission to use or access a family’s Keyoh is granted only through the consent of the Keyohwhuduchun, reflecting both the autonomy of each family and the trust that defines these relationships.
This respect for consent preserves internal harmony and supports the long-term sustainability of each Keyoh and the life it sustains.
The Protocol of Recognition & Harmonization for Keyoh Title
In 2008, Keyoh Holders across Dakelh territory came together to record their shared understanding of mutual respect, recognition, and cooperation.
Their work produced the Protocol of Recognition & Harmonization for Keyoh Title — a living agreement that outlines the principles and practices of recognition between Keyohs and their leaders.
🔗 Protocol of Recognition & Harmonization for Keyoh Title
A collaborative framework affirming respect, clarity of authority, and cooperation under Dakelh law.
Purpose and Principles
The Protocol strengthens communication and cooperation between Keyohs, setting out the foundations for respectful relationships.
It recognizes that:
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Each Keyoh Holder holds sole authority within their ancestral territory.
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The Protocol is grounded in Dakelh law, carrying equal or greater weight than colonial systems.
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Relationships between Keyohs must be guided by mutual respect, transparency, and open communication.
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Disputes are to be resolved through dialogue, cultural processes, and goodwill.
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The knowledge of the Keyoh system must be shared and taught to ensure its survival for future generations.
“The Protocol reminds us that recognition and harmony between Keyohs are central to collective strength and understanding.”
Teaching and Continuity
The Keyoh system is the traditional Indigenous land tenure system of the Stuart Lake Carrier (Dakelh).
It continues to endure because each generation learns and lives its principles — stewardship, respect, consent, and responsibility.
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Through the teachings of Elders, gatherings, and ceremonies, families pass forward the laws that bind them to the land and to one another.
These teachings ensure that the Keyoh system remains not only remembered, but actively practiced — a living law grounded in relationship and reciprocity.
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“When we honour another’s Keyoh, we honour the balance that keeps our people and our lands strong.”
A Living Law
The Protocol of Recognition & Harmonization stands as an affirmation of Dakelh law in practice — a commitment made in good faith and carried forward through action, dialogue, and respect.
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By honouring each other’s Keyohs, families strengthen their governance, safeguard their lands, and uphold the ancestral harmony that defines the Dakelh way of life.
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“When we respect another’s Keyoh, we uphold the law of our ancestors and protect the harmony of the land.”