Modern treaties represent a new stage in treaty development between the Canadian government and Indigenous people, following the historic treaties period from 1701 to 1923 (Canadian Encyclopedia). Modern treaties are nation to nation agreements. They are typically tripartite agreements between the federal government, a provincial or territorial government, and at least one Indigenous group, sometimes represented by a corporation. They include land claim agreements and self-government agreements, and may alternately be called comprehensive land claims. All modern treaties from 2000 onward include self-government provisions (Implementation of modern treaties and self-government agreements). Indigenous signatories to modern treaties are no longer subject to the Indian Act (INAN, Evidence, 25 September 2017, 0910). Following federal changes to the Comprehensive Land Claims policy in 1973, Modern treaties began to be signed in 1975 to address unresolved land claims and continue to be signed presently.
Researching modern treaties can be challenging. As with other treaties, modern treaties have the force of law, can be amended, may have numerous signatories and sub-agreements, require complex and time consuming negotiations, and may have related Canadian legislation. A modern treaty is called a final agreement when negotiation has been successful (CIRNAC definitions), and an umbrella agreement when it includes more than one agreement. Modern treaties are sometimes referred to by more than one name, and variant spellings of Indigenous names are common; this guide has tried to indicate when alternate terms may be useful for research.
The goal of this resource list is to include all modern treaties to promote engagement with these agreements. This hub will strive to be as up to date and comprehensive as possible, although there may be omissions as new treaties are signed. Please email law librarian lisa.levesque@torontomu.ca if you have suggestions or agreements to add. This list of agreements was originally compiled by Yael Boyd during her professional placement in 2023 with the Office of the Independent Special Interlocutor for Missing Children and Unmarked Graves and Burial Sites associated with Indian Residential Schools. Thank you to the donors who made the professional placement possible.
1977, Manitoba
Other Agreement
Access: Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation, Government of Canada, Manitoba Hydro
More information: Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation Description and Northern Flood Agreement: Case Study in a Treaty Area (Report for the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples)
1977, Quebec
Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement
Access: Hunting, Fishing and Trapping Coordinating Committee, CAID, FAOLEX
More information: Annual Reports
Also referred to as James Bay Cree (Cree Nation) Northern Quebec Inuit Association (now Makivik Corporation)
1978, Quebec
Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement
Access: FAOLEX, Government of Canada
Also referred to by the name of the signatory Naskapi Nation
1984, Yukon
Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement
Access: Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, Government of Canada
Also referred to as Inulviuit Regional Corporation
1993, Nunavut
Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement
Access: Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, Justice Laws
More information: Annual Reports
Also referred to as: Nunavut Agreement; Inuit Of The Nunavut Settlement Area; Nunavut Tunngavik Inc
1993, Yukon
Comprehensive Land Claim with Self-Government Agreement
Access: Teslin Tlingit Council, Government of Canada
More information: Teslin Tlingit Council Self Government Agreement, Description by the Teslin Tlingit Council, and Amendments
1993, Yukon
Other: Agreement
Access: Council of Yukon First Nations, Government of Canada
More information: Council of Yukon First Nations Description and Government of Canada Yukon Final Agreements and Related Implementation Matters
1993, Yukon
Other: Agreement
Access: Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation, Government of Canada
More information: Self Government Agreement and Amendments
1994, Northwest Territories
Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement
Access: The Sahtu Secretariat Inc (coming soon), Government of Canada
Also referred to as Sahtu Secretariat Inc.
1995, Yukon
Comprehensive Land Claim with Self-Government Agreement
Access: Government of Canada
More information: Amendments to the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations Self-Government Agreement
1995, Yukon
Comprehensive Land Claim with Self-Government Agreement
Access: Council of Yukon First Nations, Government of Canada
More information: Amendments
Also spelled Na-Cho Nyäk Dun
1997, Yukon
Comprehensive Land Claim with Self-Government Agreement
Access: Little Salmon Carmacks First Nation, Government of Canada
More information: Self-Government Agreement and Other Information from Little Salmon Carmacks First Nation and Amendments
1997, Yukon
Comprehensive Land Claim with Self-Government Agreement
Access: Council of Yukon First Nations, Government of Canada
More information: Self-Government Agreement and Amendments
1998, Yukon
Comprehensive Land Claim with Self-Government Agreement
Access: Tr'ondëk Hwëch'in Hän Nation, Government of Canada
More information: Self-Government Agreement and Amendments
2000, British Columbia
Comprehensive Land Claim with Self-Government Agreement
Access: Nisg̱a’a Lisims Government, Government of Canada
More information: Description from the Nisga’a Lisims Government, CIRNAC Description
2002, Alberta
Other Agreement
Access: Piikani Nation
More information: Trust Agreement
2002, Northwest Territories
Other Agreement
Access: Government of Canada
2002, Yukon
Comprehensive Land Claim with Self-Government Agreement
Access: Ta’an Kwäch’än Council, Government of Canada
More information: Description from the Ta'an Kwach'an Council, Self-Government Agreement, and Amendments
2004, Yukon
Comprehensive Land Claim with Self-Government Agreement
Access: Council of Yukon First Nations, Government of Canada
More information: Description and Self-Government Agreement from the Kluane First Nation
2005, Yukon
Comprehensive Land Claim with Self-Government Agreement
Access: Kwalin Dün First Nation, Government of Canada
More information: Self-Government Agreement and Amendments
2005, Newfoundland and Labrador
Comprehensive Land Claim with Self-Government Agreement
Access: Government of Canada
Also referred to as the Inuit of Labrador Land Claims Agreement; Nunatsiavut
2005, Northwest Territories
Comprehensive Land Claim with Self-Government Agreement
Access: Tłı̨chǫ Government, Government of Canada
More information: Annual reports
Tłı̨chǫ is also spelled Tåîchô or Tlicho
2005, British Columbia
Self-Government Agreement
Access: Westbank First Nation, Government of Canada
More information: Annual reports
2006, Yukon
Comprehensive Land Claim with Self-Government Agreement
Access: Carcross/ Tagish First Nation, LLMC Digital, Government of Canada
More information: Self-Government Agreement and Amendments
2007, British Columbia
Other Agreement
Access: The Council of the Haida Nation, Government of Canada
More information: The Council of the Haida Nation site has related agreements including the Gwaii Haanas Agreement and Kunst’aa Guu
2008, Quebec
Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement
Access: The Nunavik Marine Region Wildlife Board, Government of Canada
More information: Nunavik Inuit Land Claims Agreement Implementation Plan Implementation Plan
Also referred to as Makivik Corporation, 2008
2009, British Columbia
Comprehensive Land Claim with Self-Government Agreement
Access: Tsawwassen First Nation, Government of Canada
More information: Description and Amendments from Tsawwassen First Nation
2011, British Columbia
Comprehensive Land Claim with Self-Government Agreement
Access: t̓uk̓ʷaaʔatḥ, Government of British Columbia, Government of Canada
More information: Implementation Report and Appendixes
The Maa-nulth First Nations are five First Nations that together negotiated and entered into the Maa‑nulth Treaty. The five Nations are as follows: t̓uk̓ʷaaʔatḥ (Toquaht Nation), Huu-ay-aht First Nation, Ka:’yu:’k’t’h’/Che:k’tles7et’h First Nation, Uchucklesaht Tribe, and Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ (Ucluelet First Nation).
2012, Quebec
Comprehensive Land Claim with Self-Government Agreement
Access: Eeyou Marine Region Wildlife Board, Government of Canada
More information: Description by the Eeyou Marine Region Wildlife Board, Amendments, Background, the Implementation Plan, and Implementation Report
Also referred to as: An Agreement Concerning A New Relationship Between The Government Of Canada And The Cree Of Eeyou Istchee; Eeyou Marine Region Agreement; Eeyou Istchee James Bay Territory Governance Agreement; Agreement On Cree Nation Governance Between The Crees Of Eeyou Istchee And The Government Of Canada; and an Agreement Concerning A New Relationship Between Le Gouvernement Du Québec And The Crees Of Québec
2013, British Columbia
Other Agreement
Access: Government of Canada
More information: Description by Kitselas Treaty Information Source and Access to the Agreement-in-Principle
2014, Manitoba
Self-Government Agreement
Access: Amendments
More information: Also referred to as the Sioux Valley Dakota Nation Governance Agreement
2015, Northwest Territories
Self-Government Agreement
Access: Délı̨nę Got’ı̨nę Government, Government of Canada
More information: Amendments
Délįnę is also spelled Délînê or Déline
2016, British Columbia
Comprehensive Land Claim with Self-Government Agreement
Access: Tla'amin Nation, Government of Canada
More information: Description and Factsheets by the Tla'amin Nation
Also spelled ɬəʔamɛn, also referred to as Tla'amin Final Agreement
2017, British Columbia
Other Agreement
Access: ʔaq'am, Lands Advisory Board
Also referred to as Trespass And ?A-Kataxwi?Its Pa-Knumuctitifc 7aqamnik 7a-Makis
2018, Alberta
Other Agreement
Access: Lubicon Lake Band, CAID
More information: Also referred to by one of the party names, Lubicon Lake Band No. 453
2019, British Columbia
Other Agreement
Access: Haida Nation, Government of Canada
2021, Manitoba
Self-Government Agreement
Access: Manitoba Métis Federation, Government of Canada
More information: Description by the Manitoba Métis Federation