Treaty in reference to land, air, and water law recognizes that treaties are nation-to-nation agreements that affirm Indigenous Peoples’ inherent rights and responsibilities to govern, protect, and steward their traditional territories, including land, air, and water. These rights are constitutionally protected and require governments to uphold principles of consent, consultation, and shared decision-making in matters affecting natural resources and environmental governance. Treaty law extends beyond land ownership to include jurisdiction over environmental protection, resource development, and the health of ecosystems. Ultimately, it positions Indigenous Nations as legal and political authorities in sustaining the lands, waters, and air for present and future generations.

Treaty-based funding models are grounded in the understanding that funding provided to First Nations is not a program or discretionary transfer, but a legal and constitutional obligation arising from treaty relationships. These models assert that Indigenous Nations have an inherent right to determine, control, and administer funding in alignment with their own laws, priorities, and governance systems. Rather than relying on short-term, proposal-driven federal programs, treaty-based funding emphasizes long-term, predictable, and equitable fiscal arrangements that reflect nation-to-nation relationships. Ultimately, this approach supports true self-determination, fiscal sovereignty, and the capacity for Nations to design and deliver services for their people.

Treaties explained from signing to sovereignty highlights that treaties were entered into as sacred, nation-to-nation agreements between Indigenous Nations and the Crown, intended to establish peaceful coexistence and mutual benefit, not the surrender of inherent rights. While colonial governments have historically interpreted treaties as land cessions, Indigenous understandings view them as agreements to share the land while retaining jurisdiction, laws, and governance systems. This perspective reframes treaties as living agreements that continue to affirm Indigenous sovereignty and political authority. Ultimately, moving from signing to sovereignty means reclaiming treaty intent, restoring Indigenous self-governance, and reasserting Indigenous Nations as equal partners in Confederation.