In 1973, the federal government recognized two broad classes of claims: comprehensive and specific.

Comprehensive claims are based on the assessment that there may be continuing Aboriginal rights to lands and natural resources. These kinds of claims come up in those parts of Canada where Aboriginal title has not previously been dealt with by treaty and other legal means. The claims are called "comprehensive" because of their wide scope.

Comprehensive claims include such things as land title, fishing and trapping rights, and financial compensation.

The first of these modern-day treaties was the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement, signed in 1975. To date, the federal government has settled 15 comprehensive claims with Aboriginal people in Canada.

Specific claims deal with specific grievances that First Nations may have regarding the fulfillment of treaties. Specific claims also cover grievances relating to the administration of First Nations lands and assets under the Indian Act (Frideres 1998: 69, 74).

Treaty rights already in existence in 1982 (the year the Constitution Act was passed), and those that arose afterwards, are recognized and affirmed by Canada’s Constitution.

The James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement (Nov.11, 1975)
The Northeastern Quebec Agreement (Jan. 31, 1978)
The Inuvialuit Final Agreement (June 5, 1984)
The Gwich’in Agreement (April 22, 1992)
The Nunavut Land Claims Agreement (May 25, 1993)
The Sahtu Dene and Metis Agreement (May 29, 1993)
The Vuntut Gwich’in First Nation (May 29, 1993)
The Teslin Tlingit Council (May 29, 1993)
The Champagn and Aishihik First Nations (May 29, 1993)
Nacho Nyak Dun (May 29, 1993)
The Little Salmon/Carmacks First Nation (July 21, 1997)
The Selkirk First Nation (July 21, 1997)
Devolution transfer Agreement (October 2001)
Ta'an Kwach'an Council (January 2002)
Revised Yukon Act (April 1, 2003)