Modern Treaty Land
Modern treaties eliminate the application of the Indian Act completely.
A modern treaty replaces the Indian Act with a comprehensive plan for land use and administration, as well as governance (for modern treaties since 2000), taxation, and government-to-government relations.
Modern treaties provide constitutionally protected rights over a larger land base (the group’s treaty lands) than reserves, and the ability to create and manage Indigenous-owned land.
Modern treaty settlements have recognized Indigenous ownership of over 600,000 km2 of land in Canada, allowing for:
- Protection of traditional ways of life
- Decision making about land, resource management and economic development
- Varying degrees of rights over the land, depending on the agreement (i.e., surface and subsurface rights)
