Modern treaties are nation-to-nation relationships between Indigenous peoples, the federal Crown, and the provincial Crown or territorial government. These treaties enable Indigenous peoples to rebuild their communities and nations on their own terms.

The first modern treaty (James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement) came into effect in 1975, and the latest modern treaty to come into effect was in April 2016 (Tla’amin Final Agreement).

These agreements define the land and resource rights of Indigenous signatories, and are intended to improve the social, cultural, political and economic wellbeing of the Indigenous peoples concerned.