diff --git a/packages/mosaic/framework/framework-manifest.txt b/packages/mosaic/framework/framework-manifest.txt
index 8c328cf3..99320075 100644
--- a/packages/mosaic/framework/framework-manifest.txt
+++ b/packages/mosaic/framework/framework-manifest.txt
@@ -35,6 +35,8 @@ CONTRIBUTING.md
 defaults/**
 examples/**
 guides/**
+# Shipped framework subtree — canonical skills are upgrade-reconciled.
+skills/**
 install.sh
 install.ps1
 LICENSE
@@ -67,6 +69,9 @@ policy/**
 memory/**
 sources/**
 credentials/**
+# Operator-authored/customized skills live separately from canonical skills/ and
+# must remain structurally unprunable even as skills/** is framework-owned.
+skills-local/**
 # Secret-bearing operator file INSIDE the framework-owned tools/ subtree.
 # Listed explicitly so the deny-wins rule carves it out of tools/**.
 tools/_lib/credentials.json
diff --git a/packages/mosaic/src/framework/manifest-parity.spec.ts b/packages/mosaic/src/framework/manifest-parity.spec.ts
index f2915f69..cd06ac2d 100644
--- a/packages/mosaic/src/framework/manifest-parity.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/mosaic/src/framework/manifest-parity.spec.ts
@@ -78,6 +78,7 @@ const PROBE_PATHS = [
   'install.sh',
   'framework-manifest.txt',
   'guides/E2E-DELIVERY.md',
+  'skills/mosaic-context-refresh/SKILL.md',
   'tools/git/pr-create.sh',
   'tools/_lib/manifest.sh',
   'defaults/SOUL.md',
@@ -97,6 +98,7 @@ const PROBE_PATHS = [
   'memory/note.md',
   'sources/skills/x.md',
   'credentials/c.json',
+  'skills-local/custom/SKILL.md',
   'tools/_lib/credentials.json',
   'fleet/roster.yaml',
   'fleet/roster.json',
diff --git a/packages/mosaic/src/framework/manifest.spec.ts b/packages/mosaic/src/framework/manifest.spec.ts
index bc5ab5a6..ec237cda 100644
--- a/packages/mosaic/src/framework/manifest.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/mosaic/src/framework/manifest.spec.ts
@@ -304,6 +304,11 @@ describe('manifest completeness against shipped framework tree', () => {
     expect(misclassified).toEqual([]);
   });
 
+  it('shipped canonical skills are framework-owned while local skills are operator-owned', () => {
+    expect(resolveOwnership(manifest, 'skills/mosaic-context-refresh/SKILL.md')).toBe('framework');
+    expect(resolveOwnership(manifest, 'skills-local/custom/SKILL.md')).toBe('operator');
+  });
+
   it('the operator-owned surface from #791 resolves to operator', () => {
     const operatorPaths = [
       'agents/coder0.conf',
@@ -313,6 +318,7 @@ describe('manifest completeness against shipped framework tree', () => {
       'SOUL.local.md',
       'USER.local.md',
       'STANDARDS.local.md',
+      'skills-local/custom/SKILL.md',
       'tools/_lib/credentials.json',
       'fleet/roster.yaml',
       'fleet/roster.json',