Treaty annuity payments
Every year the Government of Canada makes treaty annuity payments to status Indians who are entitled to them through registration to First Nations that signed specific historic treaties with the Crown.
Service delays
Due to the labour disruption, some events may have been rescheduled. Please contact your regional office.
On this page:
What are treaty payments
Most treaty payments are made in cash during treaty payment events in First Nation communities and urban centers, on or off reserve. 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 these 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, possible 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 are not collected during a particular year will continue to accrue until collected.
Who is eligible
You are entitled to treaty annuity payments if you are a Status Indian (registered Indian) and registered to a First Nation that has signed one of the following 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, these are known as the "Numbered Treaties" from 1871-1921)
- Upper and Lower Cayuga Payments
The Upper and Lower Cayuga Payments are not treaty annuity payments. Rather, they are payments based on a decision in 1928 by the American and British Claims Arbitration Tribunal. These payments are $5 and occur every 2 years on odd years. For example, a payment occurred in 2019, and will occur again in 2021, 2023, 2025, and so on.
Consult the List of First Nations entitled to treaty annuities.
Treaty payments by mail or direct deposit
If you are entitled to 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 e-mail or mail it to your regional ISC office (addresses are shown on the form).
Make sure to include with your form a photocopy of your Secure Certificate of Indian Status (SCIS card), Certificate of Indian Status (CIS card) or other Government issued photo-identification. If you are submitting the form via email, please attach a picture of identity document(s) to the same email as the form.
Form instructions
A fillable/saveable form (PDF, 105 KB) is available online.
You may choose to:
- print the form before filling it out and send it to us by mail
- fill out the form on a computer, tablet or mobile device and send it to us by email
If you have trouble downloading the form consult Help on accessing documents in PDF format.
Direct deposit instructions
You must complete Section 4(B) of the form if you want to receive your payment by direct deposit.
An amount of $2.01 will be deposited in your account (test deposit) to confirm the banking information provided on the form. Please send us an email at testddest-east@sac-isc.gc.ca to confirm when you receive the test deposit.
The $2.01 test deposit does not count towards 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
To find the dates and times of your First Nation's treaty payment event, please ask your First Nation’s office.
To learn more about the rights and benefits to which you may be entitled contact your regional office.
The CIRNAC regional office in the Northwest Territories disburses annuity payments for First Nations located in the Northwest Territories that are signatories of Treaties 8 and 11.