. 2023 May 29;378(1881):20220196. doi: 10.1098/rstb.2022.0196

Table 1.

Indigenous governance principles shared among the Xaayda, nuučaan̓uł, and Haíɫzaqv Nations from the Northwest Coast of North America.

governance principles	X̱aayda Kil Yahdas - Haida Laws	nuučaan̓uł ḥawiłmis - Nuu-chah-nulth Laws	Ǧvı̓ḷás - Heiltsuk Laws (laws of the ancestors)
respect	Yahguudang—all acts must be done with respect. We respect each other and all living things^a	ʔiisaak—greater respect. Understanding and accepting differences^b	Xáɫa—all life has equal value. We acknowledge and respect that all plants and animals have a life force^c,d
responsibility	’Laa guu ga kanhllns—we accept the responsibility to manage and care for the land and sea together^a	maamums—your role and responsibilities that match your standing within each Nation. Ex: hereditary leaders have responsibility as caretakers of the land	Sála—to be in control of your actions. Intelligent behavior to strive for. Thinking of the consequences before you do something^c,e
reciprocity	Isda ad diigii isda—giving and receiving. Reciprocity is an essential practice for interactions with each other and the natural and spiritual worlds^a	hu?aa yii?ap—giving back. Giving and taking	giving back goodness received^c
make things right/ accountability	Tll'yahda—make it/things right. If an act is not done with respect or consent, you must make it right	caacim ‘high up’—make things right. Make things healthy	H̓aíkḷá—to make things right when needed. To make amends^c
interconnectedness	Gina ‘waadluxan gud ad kwaagid—everything depends on everything else^a. All things are connected	hišukʔiš c̓awaak—everything is one, everything is interconnected^b	we are all one and our lives are interconnected. Our relationship with our territory is fundamental and we regard it as an extension of ourselves^d
balance	Giid tlljuus—the world is as sharp as the edge of a knife. Balance is needed in our interactions with the natural world^a	q^waa?aqλin tiičmis—life in balance	Nuáqi—one's thoughts. Balance of mind, body, emotions and spirit^c
stewardship, to take care	TllXanda	ʔuuʔaałuk—taking care of. Caring and working for next generations^b	cĺísĺá to take care of; h̓íkila—to take good care of something^c. We are steward of the land and sea from which we live, knowing that our health as a people and our society is intricately tied to the health of land and waters^d
seeking advice and counsel and sharing knowledge	Gina k'aadang.nga gii uu tll k'anguudang—seeking wise council. Xaayda elders teach about traditional ways and how to work in harmony with the natural world^a	ḥaaḥuupst̓ał—sharing teachings or teaching each other. For teachings to live on they must be taught and re-taught^b	Tq̓ílá—give advice on what to do and how things should be^c
land, ocean and people for which a hereditary chief has responsibility and authority to caretake	Tllgaay or Tllga	ḥaḥuułi—a Leader's territory which includes ocean, lands, and people for which they have responsibility to caretake^b	ɫáxvái—authority that underpins ǧvı̓ḷás and the strength received from enacting ǧvı̓ḷás

^aHlG̱aagilda X̱aayda Kil Ḵ’aalang Skidegate Haida Immersion Program X̱aayda Kil Glossary. 2021; Council of the Haida Nation and Government of Canada. 2018. Guiding principles from the Gwaii Haanas Gina ‘Waadlux̱an KilG̱uhlG̱a Land-Sea-People Management Plan.

^bUu-ath-luk 2018. Uu-ath-luk Strategic Plan: building on our successes [35]. Atleo, ER 2011 [1,36].

^cHeiltsuk Tribal Council. 2018. Dáduqvḷá qṇtxv Ǧvı̓ḷásax̌: To look at our traditional laws. Decision of the Heiltsuk (Haíɫzaqv) Dáduqvḷá Committee regarding the October 13, 2016, Nathan E.Stewart Spill [37].

^dBrown F, Brown YK. 2009. Staying the course, staying alive. Coastal First Nations fundamental truths: biodiversity, stewardship and sustainability [34].

^eReid, C 1988. Heiltsuk (Haíɫzaqv) Cultural Education Center.