Getting Started
Specific Claims are intended to resolve any issues or grievances Indigenous people have with regard to government obligations, as defined in historical treaties. Often these issues arise out of differences between government and First Nations' understandings of what the treaties mean.
[Image from Government of Canada]
Learn About Specific Claims
- Canadian Encyclopedia - Specific Land ClaimsHistorical background, contemporary context, and related articles from the Canadian Encyclopedia.
- Government of Canada - Specific Claims"Learn how Canada is moving forward with First Nations to resolve their specific claims relating to past wrongs." Provides information on how to file a claim, steps in the process, and funding.
- Government of Canada - Interactive Map on Specific Claim SettlementsTo search settlements negotiated since 1973, each orange dot represents a settlement, click it for more details.
- Government of Canada - Reporting Centre on Specific ClaimsSelect "National Summary" for an overview of statistics on settled and outstanding claims; select "Status Report" for up-to-date, basic information on the status of individual specific claims; select "Settlement Report" for information on all negotiated settlements since 1973.
- Library of Parliament of Canada - Specific Claims in CanadaInformation on specific claims up to 2006 from the Library of Parliament.
- The Aboriginal Justice Implementation Commission - Specific ClaimsInformation on specific claims, criticisms of the specific claims process, and recommendations. Focuses on Manitoba.
Move Forward with a Specific Claim: Guides, Toolkits, and Resources
- Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada - The Specific Claims Policy and Process GuideInformation about specific claims policy and process from 2009 (in PDF format).
- Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada - Toolkit for Specific Claim Negotiations"This communications toolkit can be used by First Nations to carry out an effective plan for building awareness and support among their members and other stakeholders. It is intended to be a resource for people who are responsible for First Nation communications in a specific claim negotiation process."
- Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada - Specific Claim Negotiation Cost GuidelinesInformation about costs related to filing specific claims.
- Union of BC Indian Chiefs ResearchUBCIC Research undertakes free research and analysis on behalf of BC First Nations. All research is directed by the First Nation, with all the information gathered remaining the property of the First Nation.
Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC)
The Union of BC Indian Chiefs "support[s] the work of our people, whether at the community, nation or international level, in our common fight for the recognition of our aboriginal rights and respect for our cultures and societies."
- For more information about UBCIC, see their About page.
To see UBCIC's involvement in specific claims research:
- See their Research page.
- See their Online Resources page.
- See their Library & Archives page.
Funding Concerns with Specific Claims
The Office of the Auditor General, in Report 6 published May 2016, found that funding was a major barrier to the specific claims process. Details on funding are highlighted on pages 2, 6, 8-10, and 13, and in Recommendation 3 on page 14.
- Open Letter: Immediate Restoration of Specific Claims Research Funding for 2016 – 2017 Fiscal YearUBCIC open letter regarding specific claims funding.
- Open Letter to Minister Bennett Regarding Canada’s Refusal to Adequately Fund Specific Claims Research and DevelopmentSigned by various Indigenous organizations, unions, and associations.
- Indian and Northern Affairs Canada 2016-17 Departmental Results ReportThis report details steps that INAC has taken in the 2016-17 fiscal year to support reconciliation with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples.
- Government of Canada Budget 2017: Investments in Indigenous IssuesAssembly of First Nations document (in PDF format) on Canada's 2017 budget.
Specific Claims Tribunal
The Specific Claims Tribunal was created in 2008 by the Canadian Government and the Assembly of First Nations. The goal was to speed up the process of resolving specific claims.
- Specific Claims Tribunal Canada (SCTC)Specific Claims Tribunal website.
- SCTC - HistoryA brief history of specific claims prior to the passage of Bill C-30.
- SCTC - ClaimsList of claims made with the Specific Claims Tribunal.
- SCTC - DecisionsList of decisions made by the Specific Claims Tribunal.
- Government of Canada - Specific Claims Tribunal ActThe purpose of this Act is to establish the Specific Claims Tribunal, the mandate of which is to decide issues of validity and compensation relating to specific claims of First Nations.
Specific Claims Audit
- Assembly of First Nations - Specific Claims ReviewReview of the specific claims process and recommendations for improving the process (in PDF format).
- Office of the Auditor General of Canada - 2016 Audit of Northern Affairs Canada (Report 6)"This audit is important for two main reasons. First, there have been instances where the Crown has not fulfilled its treaty obligations or has mismanaged First Nations’ funds or other assets. Second, the government committed to fundamental changes to the specific claims process through Justice at Last: Specific Claims Action Plan to address these historical obligations."
- Hill Times - First Nations claims process slow and ineffectiveNewspaper article published August 16, 2018 about the Auditor General's findings regarding the specific claims process.
- Union of BC Indian Chiefs - Auditor General’s Report Exposes Systemic Government Mismanagement of Specific ClaimsUBCIC press release from December 1, 2016.