I'm still confused, BM, and from the sounds of your post, likely misinformed as well.

I inferred that "hereditary" meant that the title was passed down as a familial right, the same as the British monarchy.  Is hereditary a misnomer?

Also, how is traditional law codified?  Oral tradition is the only mechanism I am aware of given that First Nations peoples have no written language other than those created by non-indigenous linguists.

I am genuinely curious about both, not trying to be argumentative.