Hereditary chiefs aren't created by an accident of birth.  It's a position one earns through years of selfless work on the behalf of ones people.  Traditional law is definitely codified and was not usurped by the Indian Act.  What this chief has written clearly outlines the struggle between traditional law and law imposed by the government of Canada.  

You might be interested to know a significant difference between hereditary chiefs and elected chiefs.  The elected ones are respected because of the resources they acquire.  The hereditary ones are respected because of the resources they give away to their people.  Which one has earned the most respect?