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.
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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)
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 it to us or mail it to a regional office in your area to request payment by direct deposit or cheque.
Where to email your Treaty Annuity Payment Request form
Use the email address for the region in which your First Nation located:
- Quebec: qcconformiteqcconformity@sac-isc.gc.ca
- Ontario: on.treatypayments@sac-isc.gc.ca
- Manitoba: mb.treatypayments@sac-isc.gc.ca
- Saskatchewan: govskadmin@sac-isc.gc.ca
- Alberta: ab.treatypayments@sac-isc.gc.ca
- British Columbia: bc.treatypayments@sac-isc.gc.ca
- Northwest Territories: nwt.treatypayments@rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca
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.
Individuals who are 18 or older must complete their own payment request form. To request payment on behalf of dependents that are 18 or older, please include proof of guardianship with the form.
Please note this form is only to be used for an application for treaty annuity payments. This form is not used to request monies from settlements, such as the Robinson Huron settlement. Settlement monies are distributed according to the specific terms of each settlement. You may contact your Chief and Council for more information on settlement monies.
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
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.