Ottawa insists $5 treaty payment still technically enough to buy profound disappointment

Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation just $5 annually, arguing treaty promises were never intended to keep pace with extravagant modern luxuries like inflation.

After the First Nation sued to modernize the payment, federal officials reportedly reassured Canadians that reconciliation remains a top priority, immediately after ensuring it remained the cheapest recurring expense in Confederation.

Legal experts say the government’s position rests on the constitutional principle that obligations to Indigenous peoples should be honoured with the same enthusiasm Canadians honour software terms and conditions.

Officials warned that adjusting the payment to reflect 2026 dollars could set a dangerous precedent, forcing Ottawa to acknowledge that commitments made in 1899 didn’t expire the moment they became inconvenient.

“It’s still five dollars,” said one official. “We never promised it would still be worth five dollars.”

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