Treaty annuity payments
Every year the Government of Canada makes treaty annuity payments to persons who are registered under the Indian Act and are registered to a First Nation that signed a specific historic treaty with the Crown.
On this page
What are treaty payments
Most treaty payments are made in cash during treaty payment events in First Nations communities and urban centres, on or off reserves. They are coordinated by Treaty First Nations and Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) regional offices.
The fulfillment of treaty provisions is a legal obligation of the Government of Canada.
Honouring treaty commitments
ISC is responsible for honouring the Crown's annual and on-going treaty promises, which include most treaty annuities.
The fulfillment of the commitments is symbolic of the special relationship between First Nations and the Crown. The Government of Canada honours and respects those historical obligations and is committed to upholding the important place they hold for Indigenous peoples and all Canadians.
Depending on the terms of the specific treaty, obligations may include:
- payment of individual treaty annuities
- provision of ammunition and twine for nets
- provision of a suit of clothing every 3 years for chiefs and councillors
Individual annuities that aren’t collected during a particular year will continue to accrue until collected.
Urban treaty payment events
ISC is increasing the number of urban treaty payment events held in cities or towns. Urban treaty payment events allow eligible persons who live in urban areas or are unable to pick up their annuities in their home communities to collect them in person.
When attending urban treaty payment events, recipients should bring:
- A form of photo identification. If you do not have photo identification, you may be given a mail-in request form.
- Your identification should include at least your: full name, date of birth and a photo.
- You may also be asked additional questions to validate your identity.
Photo identification that does not include a photo may be used for minors accompanied by an adult.
Additional government services on-site
ISC is increasing access to government services at events for Indigenous peoples. People attending an urban event could see one or more of the following services present:
- registration and status card services
- post-secondary and employment recruitment
- estate services
- treaty monies
- Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB)
Urban treaty payment events in 2024
There will be several urban treaty payment events coordinated by ISC, across cities in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta.
Manitoba
- June 10 – 14, Winnipeg @ RBC Convention Centre, 375 York Avenue, 11 am – 7 pm (all days)
For more information on urban treaty payment events taking place in Manitoba, contact mb.treatypayments@sac-isc.gc.ca.
Saskatchewan
- June 19 – Yorkton @ Yorkton Tribal Council 11 am – 3 pm
- June 21 – Regina @ The Gathering Place 9 am – 5 pm
- June 24 – North Battleford @ Dekker Centre 10 am – 3 pm
- June 26 – Saskatoon @ Saskatoon Indian and Métis Friendship Centre 9 am – 5 pm
- July 3 – Prince Albert, Prince Albert Exhibition Hall 9 am – 4 pm
- September 13 – Treaty 4 Reserve Grounds, SK, Treaty 4 Governance Centre 9 am – 3 pm
For more information on urban treaty payment events taking place in Saskatchewan, contact govskadmin@sac-isc.gc.ca.
Ontario
- May 15 – Red Lake @ Red Lake Indian Friendship Center, 11 am – 4 pm
- June 18 – Timmins (location TBC) 11 am – 5 pm
- July 24 – Sioux Lookout (location TBC) 11 am – 4 pm
- September 11 and 12 – Thunder Bay (location TBC) 11 am – 6 pm (both days)
- September 11 and 12 – Sudbury (location TBC) 11 am – 4pm (both days)
For more information on urban treaty payment events taking place in Ontario, contact on.treatypayments@sac-isc.gc.ca.
Alberta
- Event dates TBD
For more information on urban treaty payment events taking place in Alberta, contact Ab.treatypayments@sac-isc.gc.ca.
Who is eligible
You’re eligible for treaty annuity payments if you are registered under the Indian Act and registered to a First Nation that has signed one of these treaties:
- The Robinson-Huron and Robinson-Superior Treaties (1850)
- Treaty No. 1, Treaty No. 2, Treaty No. 3, Treaty No. 4, Treaty No. 5, Treaty No. 6, Treaty No. 7, Treaty No. 8, Treaty No. 9, Treaty No. 10, and Treaty No. 11, together known as the numbered treaties
- Upper and Lower Cayuga payments
The Upper and Lower Cayuga payments aren’t treaty annuity payments. They’re payments based on approval by the Government of Canada in 1928 to respect the 1926 American and British Claims Arbitration Tribunal decision. The payments are $5 and occur every 2 years on odd years, for example, 2023, 2025, 2027 and so on.
Treaty payments by mail or direct deposit
If you’re eligible for treaty annuity payments but can’t go to a treaty payment event, you can download and fill out a Treaty Annuity Payment Request form and email or mail it to our regional office in your area. Addresses are shown on the form.
Make sure to include a copy of your Secure Certificate of Indian Status (SCIS), Certificate of Indian Status (CIS) or other government-issued photo identification with the form. If you are submitting it by email, please include a copy of identity documents to the same email as the form.
Form instructions
The fillable/saveable Treaty Annuity Payment Request form is available online.
You may choose to:
- print the form before filling it out and send it in by mail
- fill out the form on a computer and send it in by email
Direct deposit instructions
You need to complete Section 4(B) of the form if you want to receive your payment by direct deposit.
A test deposit in the amount of $2.01 will be deposited in your account to confirm the banking information provided on the form. Please send us an email at testddest-east@sac-isc.gc.ca to confirm receipt of the test deposit.
The $2.01 test deposit doesn’t count toward your treaty annuity balance, which will be deposited in your account after you confirm receipt of the test deposit. Remember to include your email address in Section 3 of the form so we can send you a reminder about the test deposit.
Contact us
For dates and times of your First Nation's treaty payment event, contact your First Nations office.
To find out more about the rights and benefits to which you may be entitled, contact our regional office in your area.
Our regional office in the Northwest Territories disburses annuity payments for First Nations located in the Northwest Territories that are signatories to Treaty No. 8 and Treaty No. 11.