Several articles in the declaration focus on culture, education, and internal knowledge transmission. For example: Articles 11–15 affirm the right to maintain cultural traditions, practices, and systems of education without external control. Article 31 recognizes the right to maintain and protect knowledge systems, traditions, and expressions. Why this matters for PMAs: These are precisely the domains that collapse in public space. Public platforms are not designed to hold: cultural transmission spiritual exploration relational education community agreements PMAs exist to create a private domain where these things can be practiced lawfully. This is not about secrecy. It’s about jurisdiction.

It affirms that Indigenous peoples have the right to maintain and strengthen their own political, legal, economic, social, and cultural institutions, while still choosing how they interact with the broader state. Read that carefully. It explicitly recognizes: distinct legal systems distinct governance distinct institutions existing alongside public systems This is the same principle PMAs rest on. A PMA: does not replace the state does not compete with public law governs only what members voluntarily consent to This is not fringe. It is already recognized as lawful precedent.