Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation sues Canada over treaty payments frozen at $5 since 1899
The First Nation says Treaty 8 annuity payments have lost all purchasing power and must be modernized to have real value today.
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Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation is suing the federal government to increase its annual treaty annuity payments after 127 years with no increase.
Chief Allan Adam says the $5 his members receive every year is an amount frozen in 1899, when Treaty 8 was signed. Depending on the treaty, annuity payments are either $4 or $5, and have never been adjusted for inflation.
"Treaty promises must remain meaningful, and it is not meaningful when a promise made in 1899 is still being paid at 1899 values," Adam said in a statement Wednesday. "This case is about keeping promises."
The statement of claim filed Tuesday in Edmonton notes that the purchasing power of $5 has declined significantly since the treaty was signed and that inflation was never mentioned during negotiations. The First Nation is not seeking damages for alleged underpayment over the past 127 years, but rather wants the annuity program modernized to deliver meaningful help.
First Nations across Canada have launched similar legal challenges over the payment amounts in recent years. In 2023, Ottawa and the Ontario government reached a $10-billion settlement with 21 Robinson-Huron Treaty First Nations in Ontario.
By the numbers
How long have Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation treaty payments remained unchanged?
Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation has received no increase to its annual treaty annuity payments for 127 years, with the $5 amount frozen since Treaty 8 was signed in 1899.
What are the current annual treaty annuity payments under Treaty 8?
Depending on the specific treaty, annuity payments are either $4 or $5 per year, amounts that have never been adjusted for inflation since 1899.
What did Canada settle with Robinson-Huron Treaty First Nations in 2023?
In 2023, Ottawa and the Ontario government reached a $10-billion settlement with 21 Robinson-Huron Treaty First Nations in Ontario over payment amounts.
