Community Feedback Report on Tribal DAO Tokenomics & Governance Design
Introduction
This report synthesizes feedback gathered from community members via a structured form. Our goal is to inform the design of a Tribal DAO’s tokenomics and governance framework by capturing participants’ priorities, insights, and recommendations. The feedback spans 23 key questions addressing decision‐making, fund allocation, transparency, participation, and cultural values. Each section below includes a bullet‐point summary of raw responses, distilled insights into governance or tokenomic implications, and actionable recommendations for integration into the DAO design.
1. Prioritizing Community Funding
Summary of Responses:
- Broad community involvement in setting priorities
- Inclusion of kaumātua/kuia (elders) and rangatahi (youth)
- Transparent multi‐stage decision processes
Insights:
- Democratic, inclusive governance is paramount
- Cultural authority of elders must be honoured alongside youth perspectives
- Transparency fosters trust
Recommendations:
- Implement on‐chain one‐person–one‐token voting
- Issue non‐transferable “Elder Advisory” tokens granting veto or consult rights
- Design a multi‐round proposal → discussion → vote workflow on‐chain
2. Decision Makers for Project Funding
Summary of Responses:
- Entire community via assemblies or digital forums
- Core representative committee if elected and rotating
- Formal trustees only if democratically chosen
Insights:
- Direct democracy preferred; hybrid models address scale
- Accountability & term limits prevent gatekeeping
Recommendations:
- Hybrid DAO: rotating, elected committee filters proposals before full vote
- Committee members hold time‐locked governance tokens to enforce rotation
3. Initial Project Priorities
Summary of Responses:
- Land, food & water sovereignty initiatives
- Housing & health services (e.g., wānanga housing, rongoā whare)
- Connectivity & education (learning hubs, digital access)
- Preference for shared infrastructure
Insights:
- Foundational public goods are prerequisites for well‐being
- Long‐term, scalable impact prioritized
Recommendations:
- Establish a “Sovereignty Pool” in token emissions
- Vest tokens over multi‐year timelines tied to KPIs
- Milestone‐based releases via smart contracts
4. Voting Power & Volunteer Influence
Summary of Responses:
- One‐person–one‐vote for fairness
- Some support extra votes for verified volunteers
Insights:
- Equality is essential; rewarding effort boosts engagement
- Safeguards needed to prevent vote‐gaming
Recommendations:
- Use quadratic voting to balance equality and influence
- Issue reputation tokens for volunteer contributions, capped
- Log contributions on‐chain for automated reputation issuance
5. Contributor Compensation vs. Reinvestment
Summary of Responses:
- Mixed: desire for personal rewards vs. community reinvestment
- Many propose a split model
Insights:
- Contributors value both personal incentives and communal sustainability
Recommendations:
- Default token split: 70% to contributor, 30% to treasury
- Allow opt‐in adjustments (e.g., 60/40) for flexibility
6. Handling Unspent Budgets
Summary of Responses:
- Return unspent funds to the central fund
- Allow rollover for multi‐year projects with approval
Insights:
- Efficient capital recycling is valued
- Flexibility for long‐term projects via governance
Recommendations:
- Smart contracts auto‐return surplus at year‐end
- On‐chain vote option to approve limited rollovers
7. Transparency & Reporting
Summary of Responses:
- Full transaction‐level transparency desired
- Plain‐language updates and dashboards preferred
- Shared experiences of reporting and or minute manipulation for personal gain and gatekeeping.
Insights:
- Auditability and visibility are non‐negotiable
Recommendations:
- Public on‐chain explorer dashboards for disbursements
- User‐friendly web UI translating on‐chain data
8. Eligibility for Fund Applications
Summary of Responses:
- Broad eligibility: individuals, whānau, collectives
- Clear criteria needed for fairness
Insights:
- Open access prevents gatekeeping; checks ensure integrity
Recommendations:
- Identity‐based token gating requiring small stake
- Smart contract‐enforced eligibility rules
9. Roles in Fund Management
Summary of Responses:
- Priority‐setting, application vetting, progress monitoring
Insights:
- Members seek granular participation beyond voting
Recommendations:
- Role‐based governance tokens unlocking specific permissions
- On‐chain modules for proposal creation, vetting, oversight
10. Infrastructure vs. Whānau Support
Summary of Responses:
- Majority: infrastructure first, then whānau support
- Some favour balanced allocation
Insights:
- Public infrastructure acts as a multiplier for individual well‐being
Recommendations:
- Dual‐pool allocation: Infrastructure and Whānau Grant Pools
- Community votes to adjust pool ratios within defined bounds
11. Special Role for Kaumātua & Kuia (Elders)
Summary of Responses:
- Strong support for advisory/oversight roles
- Few oppose formal special roles
Insights:
- Cultural stewardship by elders is a core value
Recommendations:
- Issue Elder Council tokens (non‐transferable) granting advisory/veto power
- Maintain a separate elder governance tier
12. Managing Difficult Decisions
Summary of Responses:
- Collective discussion and consensus‐seeking
- Multisig sign‐offs or arbitration for contested cases
Insights:
- On‐chain dispute resolution and multisig frameworks needed
Recommendations:
- Embed multisig & arbitration DAO modules on‐chain
- Define dispute triggers and workflows in smart contracts
13. Profit Allocation vs. Subsidies
Summary of Responses:
- Majority: reinvest profits into fund
- Some: price subsidies for families preferred
Insights:
- Reinvestment prioritized; subsidies need separate mechanisms
Recommendations:
- Treasury rules for reinvestment vs. subsidy splits
- Subsidy pool contract issuing family vouchers
14. Whānau Loan Programs
Summary of Responses:
- Mixed: micro‐loans supported by some, rejected by others
Insights:
- Loans require cultural framing and clear terms
Recommendations:
- Tokenized micro‐loan contracts with peer endorsement and automated repayment
- Separate loan pool governed by community‐set rules
15. Community Investments
Summary of Responses:
- Support for investments in circular economy
- Caution about risk to principal
Insights:
- Willingness for yield generation with risk management
Recommendations:
- Deploy excess treasury tokens into low‐risk on‐chain yield options
- Cap investment exposure; require periodic re‐vote
16. Success Metrics
Summary of Responses:
- Completed project count
- Improvements in well‐being metrics
- Funding efficiency; participation rates
Insights:
- Both quantitative and qualitative KPIs matter
Recommendations:
- On‐chain KPIs: funds disbursed, proposals passed, active contributors
- Oracle‐fed well‐being data integrated into dashboards
17. Community Service Tax (CST)
Summary of Responses:
- Split views: fair funding vs. unwanted tax
Insights:
- Protocol fees must be minimal, transparent, optionally bypassable
Recommendations:
- Small, capped transaction fee set by community vote
- Rebates or opt‐outs for low‐income members
18. Vote in Exchange for Donations
Summary of Responses:
- Mixed: conditional support; some reject vote‐buying
Insights:
- Donations‐for‐governance workable with quadratic funding and caps
Recommendations:
- Quadratic funding for donated votes
- Hard cap on donated voting power per account
19. Motivations for Monetary Contributions
Summary of Responses:
- Tangible community impact; whakapapa connections
- Learning and collective pride
Insights:
- Incentives must align with visible impact and cultural values
Recommendations:
- Early contributor bonus via token multipliers
- “Impact badge” NFTs minted on project success
20. Community Participation Enjoyment
Summary of Responses:
- Collective action; shared purpose
- Cultural connections; service and reciprocity
Insights:
- Community spirit and cultural reinforcement drive engagement
Recommendations:
- Gamified quests and challenges with token/NFT rewards
- On‐chain “Hall of Fame” of communal achievements
21. Meaningful Recognition
Summary of Responses:
- Personalized acknowledgments: hui shout‐outs, certificates, koha
Insights:
- Public, culturally resonant recognition builds social capital
Recommendations:
- On‐chain reputation NFTs at milestones
- Peer‐to‐peer “koha tokens” for acknowledgments
22. Pay Equity vs. Role‐Based Rates
Summary of Responses:
- Split: equal pay vs. role‐based rates based on complexity
Insights:
- Balance equity with expertise‐based compensation
Recommendations:
- Tiered token reward schedules: base rate + role multiplier
- Transparent, on‐chain rate table adjustable via governance
23. Onboarding & Support for New Members
Summary of Responses:
- Clear expectations and role descriptions
- Formal orientation, mentorship, and whanaungatanga events
Insights:
- Effective onboarding is critical for retention and engagement
Recommendations:
- Welcome token airdrops with vesting schedules
- Mentorship tokens for experienced members
- Whanaungatanga events with proof‐of‐attendance NFTs
24. Communications
Summary of Responses:
- Clear communication expectations for internal and external sharing of information
- Clear expectations of communication tools that are used and balanced with ā tinana (in-person) methods of communication.
- For example: Hapū, Marae, Iwi Hui (Tribe Meetings), Whānau (family) conversations.
- Social media tools are used cause it easy and people know how to use it, could we have our own.
Insights:
- Effective communications is critical for making informed decisions, voicing concerns and or contributions
Recommendations:
- A digital chat / messaging service is required to ensure internal communications remain with the members.
- In person communications require resourcing and can be an ongoing funding initiative.
Conclusion
This comprehensive report captures community‐driven priorities and cultural values essential for designing a Tribal DAO. Key themes include inclusive, transparent governance; culturally anchored advisory roles; balanced tokenomics that reward individuals while sustaining communal resources; and robust mechanisms for participation, dispute resolution, and onboarding. Implementing these recommendations via smart contracts—on‐chain voting, reputation systems, treasury management, and token‐based incentives—will align the DAO’s architecture with the community’s collective vision and ensure resilience, equity, and cultural integrity.
Feedback Sources
- Tribal DAO Community Workshop - Weds 14th May, 10am - 12pm, Online
- Understanding digital Communication Survey
- Understanding collective resources and decision making survey
- Kaumatua Discussion - Thurs 29 May 2025, In-person, Tautoro, New Zealand