Find agreements with Indigenous governments and groups

There are 14 treaties that apply in the Yukon:

• 11 Yukon First Nations Final Agreements with associated Self-Government Agreements
• Inuvialuit Final Agreement
• Gwitch'in Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement (Appendix C)
• Historic Treaty 11

Treaties are legal agreements that outline Indigenous rights to land, economic development, resources and much more.

The 11 Yukon First Nations Self-Government Agreements flow from each Yukon First Nation's Final Agreements and set out law-making authorities and processes, among other matters.

All Yukon First Nations have constitutionally protected rights in the Yukon, whether or not they have signed a treaty. 

Treaty process in the Yukon

The Yukon’s modern treaty process has resulted in Final and Self-Government Agreements between individual Yukon First Nations, the Government of Canada and the Government of Yukon. 

Umbrella Final Agreement

The Umbrella Final Agreement is a framework for negotiating the individual Final Agreements. It was signed in 1993 by the Government of Canada, the Government of Yukon and the Council of Yukon First Nations.

Final Agreements

The Final Agreements are constitutionally-protected modern treaties that outline Yukon First Nations’ rights within their traditional territories. 11 of the 14 Yukon First Nations have Final Agreements with the Government of Canada and the Government of Yukon.

They describe how the federal, territorial and First Nations governments interact with each other and define First Nations ownership of and decision-making powers on Settlement Land. The Final Agreements address heritage, fish, wildlife, natural resources, water, forestry, taxation, financial compensation, economic development and land management.

Self-Government Agreements

The Self-Government Agreements stem from the Chapter 24 of the Final Agreements. They define a Yukon First Nations’ self-government powers, authorities and responsibilities, including: 

• law-making;
• taxation; and
• programs and services.

Transboundary treaties

There are Indigenous governments and groups outside of the Yukon that have modern land claim agreements (treaties) that identify their land and rights in the Yukon. They are the Tetlit Gwich’in and the Inuvialuit of the Northwest Territories. 

There’s also the historic Treaty 11 between the Government of Canada and some Dehcho First Nations based in the Northwest Territories that applies in the Yukon.