I think the best process is to get the best information to all members. Dividing them between an elected body and a hereditary body is not a good way to go. I'm elected as a mayor in my position. I also belong to a tribe, so I am a tribal member. In our tribal system, we had chiefs, sub-chiefs and speakers. That has broken down over the years. People are claiming names that they shouldn't be claiming, so there's disarray and confusion.
For me, I don't want to label somebody as a hereditary chief or.... We're all equal, and we should all have the same information, the right information, so we can make an informed decision on any project or proposed issue, keeping in mind that the environment is the most important part of anything that's being proposed.