diff --git a/.github/workflows/dogfood-gate.yml b/.github/workflows/dogfood-gate.yml
index bc1cb83..910a89e 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/dogfood-gate.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/dogfood-gate.yml
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ jobs:
   # Job 1: A2ML manifest validation
   # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
   a2ml-validate:
-    name: Validate A2ML manifests
+    name: Validate DEED manifests
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
 
     steps:
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ jobs:
           COUNT=$(find . -type f \( -name '*.a2ml' -o -name '*.deed' \) -not -path './.git/*' | wc -l)
           echo "count=$COUNT" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
           if [ "$COUNT" -eq 0 ]; then
-            echo "::warning::No .deed manifest files found. Every RSR repo should have 0-AI-MANIFEST.deed (.a2ml is legacy and no longer authored)"
+            echo "::warning::No .a2ml/.deed manifest files found. Every RSR repo should have a repo deed (<reponame>_chora.deed); legacy 0-AI-MANIFEST.a2ml accepted mid-migration — standards #837"
           fi
 
       - name: Validate A2ML manifests
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ jobs:
             cat <<'EOF' >> "$GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY"
           ## A2ML Validation
 
-          :warning: **No manifest found.** Every RSR-compliant repo should have at least `0-AI-MANIFEST.deed`. (`.a2ml` still validates as legacy but is no longer authored.)
+          :warning: **No .a2ml/.deed manifest files found.** Every RSR-compliant repo should have a repo deed (`<reponame>_chora.deed`) at its root.
 
           Copy one from [rsr-template-repo](https://github.com/hyperpolymath/rsr-template-repo).
           EOF
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ jobs:
             cat <<'EOF' >> "$GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY"
           ## K9 Contract Validation
 
-          :warning: **No K9 contract files found.** Repos with configuration files should have K9 contracts.
+          :warning: **No .a2ml/.deed manifest files found.** Every RSR-compliant repo should have a repo deed (`<reponame>_chora.deed`) at its root.
 
           Generate contracts with: `k9iser generate .`
           EOF
@@ -394,7 +394,7 @@ jobs:
 
           | Tool/Format | Status | Notes |
           |-------------|--------|-------|
-          | DEED manifest (0-AI-MANIFEST.deed) | ${A2ML_STATUS} | Required for all RSR repos |
+          | DEED repo deed (`<reponame>_chora.deed`) | ${A2ML_STATUS} | Required for all RSR repos |
           | K9 contracts | ${K9_STATUS} | Required for repos with config files |
           | .editorconfig | ${EC_STATUS} | Required for all repos |
           | Groove endpoint | ${GROOVE_STATUS} | Required for service repos |