Modern treaties

Ongoing work to implement modern treaties.

Choose a topic

• What is a modern treaty
• The modern treaty era
• Canada's Collaborative Modern Treaty Implementation Policy
• Cabinet Directive on the Federal Approach to Modern Treaty Implementation
• Statement of Principles on the Federal Approach to Modern Treaty Implementation
• Final agreements and related implementation matters

What is a modern treaty

Modern treaties are a distinct expression of reconciliation and a constitutionally entrenched commitment between the Crown and Indigenous partners to build true nation-to-nation, Inuit-Crown, and government-to-government relationships.

Modern treaties are fundamental to advancing the reconciliation of pre-existing Indigenous sovereignty with Crown sovereignty. They aim to:

• promote strong Indigenous Peoples
• create enduring intergovernmental relationships
• improve the lives and livelihoods of Indigenous Peoples
• advance national socio-economic objectives that benefit all Canadians

Modern treaties, self-government arrangements, and other constructive arrangements create stability and predictability over rights, lands and interests. This supports Indigenous Peoples in pursuing greater social, cultural, political, and economic well-being, while fostering sustainable growth and development.

Modern treaties recognize, affirm, and enable the rights and interests of Indigenous Peoples with respect to:

• ownership over 600,000 kilometers squaredkm² of land
• protection, revitalization, and prosperity of Indigenous cultures, languages, and heritage
• access to resource development opportunities
• participation and leadership in land and resource management decisions
• predictability of land rights covering about 40% of Canada's land mass
• self-government, political recognition and representation
• improved social well-being outcomes including in health, education, and housing
• economic development opportunities that support greater prosperity, sustainable growth, and self-reliance

Modern treaties quick facts:

• Canada is currently implementing 27 modern treaties
• Of these 27 modern treaties:
  • 6 include only a Comprehensive Land Claim Settlement Agreement
  • 1 includes only self-government provisions and is unrelated to any land claim
  • 20 address both a Comprehensive Land Claim and self-government in some way

To learn about ongoing work to negotiate modern treaties and other rights-based arrangements with Indigenous partners, consult Negotiations in progress.

The modern treaty era

The modern treaty era began in 1973 after the Supreme Court of Canada decision Calder et al. v. Attorney-General of British Columbia, which recognized Aboriginal title as a legal right for the first time, setting the stage for the rights-based settlement of outstanding Indigenous land claims. This decision led to the first modern treaty, the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement, which was signed in 1975.

Timeline of modern treaties in Canada

• The James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement: signed 1975, effective 1977
• The Northeastern Quebec Agreement: signed 1978, effective 1978
• The Inuvialuit Final Agreement: signed 1984, effective 1984
• Gwich'in Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement: signed 1992, effective 1992
• The Nunavut Agreement: signed 1993, effective 1993
• Sahtu Dene and Metis Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement: signed 1994, effective 1994
• Champagne and Aishihik First Nations Final Agreement: signed 1993, effective 1995
• First Nation of Nacho Nyak Dun Final Agreement: signed 1993, effective 1995
• Teslin Tlingit Council Final Agreement: signed 1993, effective 1995
• Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation Final Agreement: signed 1993, effective 1995
• Little Salmon/Carmacks First Nation Final Agreement: signed 1997, effective 1997
• Selkirk First Nation Final Agreement: signed 1997, effective 1997
• The Tr'ondëk Hwëch'in Final Agreement: signed 1998, effective 1998
• Nisga'a Final Agreement: signed 1999, effective 2000
• The Ta'an Kwäch'än Council Final Agreement: signed 2002, effective 2002
• Kluane First Nation Final Agreement: signed 2004, effective 2004
• The Kwanlin Dun First Nation Final Agreement: signed 2005, effective 2005
• Tłı̨chǫ Land Claims and Self-Government Agreement: signed 2005, effective 2005
• Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement: signed 2005, effective 2005
• The Carcross/Tagish First Nation Final Agreement: signed 2005, effective 2006
• Nunavik Inuit Land Claims Agreement: signed 2006, effective 2008
• Tsawwassen First Nation Final Agreement: signed 2007, effective 2009
• Maa-nulth First Nations Final Agreement: signed 2008, effective 2011
• Eeyou Marine Regional Land Claims Agreement: signed 2010, effective 2012
• Tla'amin Final Agreement: signed 2014, effective 2016
• Déline Final Self-Government Agreement: signed 2015, effective 2016
• A Self-Government Treaty Recognizing the Whitecap Dakota Nation: signed 2023, effective 2023

Consult the Modern treaties map to learn where the modern treaties are located:

This map illustrates the boundaries of all finalized modern treaties between Indigenous communities and the Canadian government.

Legend

A Inuvialuit Final Agreement (1984)

A1 Inuvialuit Final Agreement/Western Arctic Claim - Yukon (1984)

B Nunavut Agreement (1993)

C Yukon Umbrella Final agreement

C2 Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation Final and Self-Government Agreements (1993)

C3 Tr'ondëk Hwëch'in Final and Self-Government Agreements (1998)

C4 First Nation of Nacho Nyak Dun Final and Self-Government Agreements (1995)

C5 Selkirk First Nation Final and Self-Government Agreements (1997)

C6 Kluane First Nation Final and Self-Government Agreements (2004)

C7 Little Salmon/Carmacks First Nation Final and Self-Government Agreements (1997)

C8 Champagne and Aishihi First Nation Final and Self-Government Agreements (1995)

C9 Ta'an Kwäch'än Council Final and Self-Government Agreements (2002)

C10 Kwanlin Dün First Nation Final and Self-Government Agreements (2005)

C11 Carcross/Tagish First Nation Final and Self-Government Agreements (2006)

C12 Teslin Tlingit Council Final and Self-Government Agreements (1995)

D Gwich'in Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement (1992)

E Sahtu Dene and Métis Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement (1994)

F Délįnę Final Self-Government Agreement (2015)

G Tłı̨chǫ Agreement (2005)

H Nisga'a Final Agreement (2000)

I Maa-nulth First Nations Final Agreement (2011)

J Tla'am in Final Agreement (2016)

K Tsawwassen First Nation Final Agreement (2009)

L Self-Government Treaty Recognizing the Whitecap Dakota Nation / Wapaha Ska Dakota Oyate (2023)

M Nunavik Inuit Land Claims Agreement (2008)

N Eeyou Marine Region Land Claims Agreement (2012)

O James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement and Northeastern Quebec Agreement (1977-1978)

P Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement (2005)

Disclaimer

This map is distributed for informal purposes only. His Majesty in right of Canada does not warrant or guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information contained in the drawings. The boundaries indicated are approximate and may be subject to revision in the future. These drawings are not to be relied upon for any purpose or activity, including but not limited to for assessing consultations obligations. His Majesty in right of Canada does not assume any legal liability or responsibility for any damage or loss incurred as a result of the use of the drawings.

Canada's Collaborative Modern Treaty Implementation Policy

Modern treaties articulate the relationships, overall objectives and specific obligations and responsibilities that their signatories must achieve and execute. Canada is committed to meeting its obligations under modern treaties and to fully embody true nation-to-nation, government-to-government and Inuit-Crown relationships with Indigenous modern treaty partners.

To further these aims, Canada and Indigenous modern treaty partners co-developed Canada's Collaborative Modern Treaty Implementation Policy in 2023. It provides clear direction to federal departments and agencies to ensure the timely and effective fulfillment of obligations and objectives in the spirit in which the agreements were signed and with the purpose of strengthening intergovernmental relationships.

This policy provides new implementation tools to complement existing mechanisms and seeks to strengthen oversight and accountability by federal departments and agencies in carrying out Canada's modern treaty obligations. This will contribute to advancing a transformational shift towards genuine reconciliation.

This policy is in effect but is a continually evolving document that will be updated over time, including as new annexes are collaboratively developed.

Cabinet Directive on the Federal Approach to Modern Treaty Implementation

Following engagement with Indigenous modern treaty partners in 2015, Canada published the Cabinet Directive on the Federal Approach to Modern Treaty Implementation. The cabinet directive sought to define the roles and responsibilities of federal departments and to require departments to assess program, policy, regulatory and legislative proposals to ensure that modern treaties are respected. Canada's Collaborative Modern Treaty Implementation Policy commits to working with Indigenous modern treaty partners to implement the directive, as well as review and update it as necessary.

Statement of Principles on the Federal Approach to Modern Treaty Implementation

Following consultation with Indigenous modern treaty partners in 2015, Canada published the Statement of Principles on the Federal Approach to Modern Treaty Implementation which provided policy guidance to federal departments and agencies on their role in the implementation of modern treaties and self-government arrangements.