Introduction to the Protocol of Recognition and Harmonization for Keyoh Title
This Protocol formalizes our ancestral system of land stewardship under Dakelh law. Under this system, each extended family holds exclusive title to its Keyoh—the lands and resources safeguarded by the family’s Keyoh Holder or Keyohwhudachun, a role passed down through countless generations. Ratifying this Protocol serves as a mutual affirmation of these titles, acknowledging the respective family heads and traditional boundaries of each Keyoh.
This document details shared responsibilities, guiding principles, and clear roles designed to foster respectful collaboration, sustainable resource management, and conflict minimization. In doing so, it reaffirms the longstanding cultural and legal traditions that shape our relationship with the land—this is the Keyoh system.
The Keyoh are ancestral lands owned by extended families, each managed by a family head known as the Keyoh Holder or Keyohwhudachun. This title is traditionally passed down from one generation to the next, typically to the first male child or another suitable family member. This practice has been maintained through generations.
Keyoh Holders and their families honor the authorities and titles of each other’s territories. Recognizing and respecting each other’s Keyoh is crucial for maintaining relationships between neighboring families. This mutual respect fosters good social relations, including trade, and helps neighbors become strong allies.
Respect and recognition between Keyoh enhance each family’s ability to manage and control their lands. Internal control is essential for the long-term sustainability of the relationship between the family, the plants, and the animals within their Keyoh.
Each Keyohwhudachun acts as the steward or custodian of their land. Permission to use a family’s Keyoh is granted only with the consent of the Keyohwhudachun. Recognizing and respecting each family’s ownership is integral to the cultural institution of the Keyoh system.
In 2008, Keyoh Holders documented the protocol for mutual recognition and respect. This protocol is titled “Recognition & Harmonization For Keyoh Title”.