The Treaty Commission allocates negotiation support funding to First Nations so that they can prepare for and carry out negotiations on a more even footing with the governments of Canada and BC. For every $100 of negotiation support funding, $80 is a loan from Canada, $12 is a contribution from Canada and $8 is a contribution from BC. The Treaty Commission's funding duties include:

	receiving and considering funding requests from First Nations;
	approving the budgets filed by First Nations in support of their workplans;
	allocating funds to First Nations in accordance with funding criteria agreed to by the Principals;
	reviewing annual audit reports and other accounting reports from First Nations that receive negotiation support funding; and
	obtaining evidence of community approval for a funding request.

Since opening its doors in May 1993 the Treaty Commission has allocated approximately $362 million in negotiation support funding to more than 50 First Nations — $289 million in the form of loans and $73 million in the form of contributions.

For more information, please read the Funding Fact Sheet (pdf).