Amazon Charter

Mission Statement

The Amazon Nation is a strictly female society whose ways and traditions are kept strictly within the Sisterhood. Our purpose includes – but shall not be restricted to – the protection of women and children, the promotion of equal rights, and the creation of a strong Amazon Nation. Good works, charity, community action, and legal lobbying shall achieve these ends. We, the Members of the Sisterhood, vow to defend and protect the ideals of the Amazon Nation against all enemies, be they foreign or domestic, to uphold the values of the Amazon Nation as set forth in the Charter, and to bear faithful allegiance to the Charter and the Nation. Cu ena durus Tae’Nah arcis!

Titles

Latra (Queen) – The Latra is responsible for the life of the Tribe. Her duties include maintaining harmony among and leadership of the Athelfi (Members). The Tribe is the Latra and the Latra is the Tribe. In times of war, the Latra leads the warriors in the field.

Lyna (Regent) – The Regent is the second-in-command, and therefore aids in leadership and daily governing of the Tribe. Should the Latra be incapacitated or deemed by the Council unfit to lead the Tribe, the powers fall to the Regent. It is not required that the Regent be related to the Latra. In times of war, the Lyna leads the defense of the village.

Laca (Princess) – Only Athelfi related to the Latra by blood or bequeathal or Rite of Caste (explained below in Rites and Ceremonies) can be Laca. Laca are trained to both be leaders and Ti’Sa. If a Laca so chooses, she may relinquish her title and its duties to become a Ti’Sa or Shamaness.

Cild Archila (Weapons Mistress) – The Cild Archila is responsible for the construction and maintenance of the chief weapons of defense for the Tribe. She also takes part in training our Athelfi. In times of war, she is second in command of the armies in the field, reporting to the Latra.

Ti’Ya Archila (Captain of the Guard) – The Ti’Ya is responsible for the defense of the Tribe. She is the leader of all of the warriors, although only the Archila (heads) of the different warrior branches report directly to her. In times of war, she is second in command of the defense of the homeland, reporting to the Lyna.

Ti’Sa (Priestess) and Kuk’Tai (Shamaness) – the Ti’Sa and Kuk’Tai observe the spiritual ways of the Amazon Nation. They are the leaders of the ceremonies and rites and are responsible for performing these. They are the spiritual leaders of the Tribe. There may be more than one Ti’Sa in a tribe dedicated to the different gods. There is usually only one practicing Kuk’Tai and her apprentice. An elder Kuk’Tai may abdicate in favor of her apprentice and remain in the Tribe, however she will not lead the tribe in ceremonies.

Caliah Istoria (Keeper of the Scroll) – The Caliah Istoria is responsible for maintaining the verbal and written history of her Tribe. Her duty is to guard that history and interpret the scripture for the younger generations.

Delu Abacha (Tribal Council) – The Council is composed of experienced and wise members of the Tribe. Their responsibility includes proposals for expansion or curtailing of the powers thus enumerated, proposals for the establishment of new positions, and the interpretation of the guidelines set forth for our various Rites. The Tribe and their Latra shall seek counsel from the Council, as needed. The leaders of the Tribe appoint new council members. Procedures on how the Council makes decisions follow in the Charter.

Interpretation. This document shall be interpreted with the strictest of scrutiny. Any rights not enumerated to the Nation are to be given to the Tribes until an Amendment is added to the Charter.

Votes. In matters of Amendments, each Tribe must send one delegate to a place to be designated by mutual agreement. A congress of ¾ of the Nation’s delegates must be present to vote on any matter. Of that ¾’s each member has one equal vote including each Latra.

Integration. If a new tribe wishes to join the Amazon Nation, they must petition the council of elders for the entire Amazon Nation. The vote to accept must be unanimous. A Tribe must consist of a Latra, Lyna, Ti’Ya, Cild Archila, Ti’Sa or Kuk’Tai, Caliah Istoria and several members. Membership shall be based on integrity and intent to maintain and protect the values of the Charter and the Nation. Each Tribe is strongly urged to have an original token that symbolizes them, and each member must swear according to the Mission Statement.

Freedom of Speech. All Amazons have the freedom to speak their mind and to be heard. The exception is when words used are used in such circumstances and are of such a nature as to create a clear and present danger that they will bring about the substantive evils that the Tribal Council has a right to prevent.

Freedom of Religion. Tribal Council may not deny membership to individual Tribes based solely on religion except and unless in the event that the religion oppresses, suppresses, or forfeits any rights guaranteed by the Amazons. In an effort to integrate Athelfi with conflicting beliefs, the Amazon Nation and its member Tribes will display tolerance. The Amazon Nation will tolerate no religious acts, which oppress women and children or bring them to harm. Member Tribes reserve the right to conduct a background investigation to determine the integrity of applicants to the Amazon Nation.

Right to Challenge. This rite entails one Amazon challenging another, usually prompted by a conflict or issue the parties cannot resolve. The Royal Challenge must be honored when someone of royal Amazon blood or caste issues the challenge. Further details of this rite are protected in the sacred documents of the Amazon Nation.

Declaration of War. An attack against one Tribe is an attack on the Nation and the Amazons shall respond accordingly to any and every clear act of war. An emergency convention of Athelfi must be convened before any action can be taken. In matters of great immediacy, the Tribal Councils reserve the right to act accordingly and forcefully until the Nation reaches a unified decision. The Amazon Nation may only go to war under an Amazon Latra.

Handfasting. Amazon Law protects the rites of any Amazon to wed any unmarried Amazon or unmarried man that does not break Amazon law, and this extends to the significant other’s race, religion, appearance, or sexual preference, providing that no Amazon law is broken and no Amazon endangered from such union. Further details of this rite are protected in the sacred documents of the Amazon Nation.

Right to Abortion. Athelfi are prohibited from doing harm to any Athelfi who performs, receives, or wishes to obtain an abortion. Every Athelfi – regardless of religious preference – retains the right to an abortion. Athelfi will not be forced into having an abortion. Whenever possible, the Athelfi may receive counsel from the Latra, the Shamaness or the Ti’Sa before making her decision. The counselor is bound to be objective in her counseling and may not discuss the conversation with anyone after.

Male children of Athelfi. Should an Amazon give birth to a male babe, she may raise him in the ways of the Amazons until age eighteen, but he shall be prohibited from attending the rites and viewing the sacred documents of the Amazon Nation. At the age of eighteen, he must leave the tribe. If the son has daughters, they are considered Amazons of the grandmother's tribe although they must observe all rites they may have missed while not in the tribe village.

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