Land Claims or Treaty Land Entitlement

In Canada, the Federal Government negotiates 3 types of claims. These are:

1. Comprehensive Claims

These are claims on land known to have been the traditional territory of First Nations. Traditional land has been recognized as having Aboriginal Title by Canadian law in a royal proclamation guaranteeing that such Traditional lands would not be interfered with by the Crown unless consent of the Aboriginal peoples involved was first granted. Comprehensive Claims are those negotiated by the federal government based on Aboriginal Title.    

2. Specific Claims

These are claims based on cases where the Provincial of Federal Government allegedly violated a specific legal obligation to an Aboriginal community set out in a treaty, statute or common law. These claims are based on illegal expropriation of Aboriginal lands, breach of trust, fraud committed by government or an agent acting on its behalf, failure to implement promises made in a treaty or any other agreement or any other violation of Canadian law.

3. Special Claims 

These are claims that do not directly fit into the Specific or Comprehensive claims process' but are still valid claims.

For more information on First Nations Land Claims and Entitlement issues, please check out some of the websites listed below:

• First Nations Drum: Online magazine that provides news from Canada's Native Communities

• Government of Canada, Indian and Northern Affairs:  Information on the Claims and Indian Government Sector

• First Peoples on Schoolnet: An online guide to First Nations resources on the web including cultural, political, social and educational groups

• Aboriginal Claims in Canada: Online guide to resources available at the University of Alberta regarding land claims issues, includes searchable database

• Indian Claims Commission: Independent body set up to help First Nations and the federal government settle claims.  Full of information on how to conduct inquiries into claims when the government has breached an agreement, treaty or statute, such as the Indian Act.

• Aboriginal Canada Portal: Guide to Canadian Aboriginal on-line resources, contacts, information, and government programs and services. The portal offers ease of access and navigation to listings of Aboriginal associations, businesses, organizations, bands, communities, groups, news and peoples

• University of Alberta, School of Native Studies: Provides information on available programs, ongoing projects, lectures and news out of the School of Native Studies.

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