What signing payment was promised under the treaties?

• A. A payment upon signing the treaty ($3-$12)
• B. An education grant
• C. A permanent land title
• D. A transportation subsidy

Answer: (A)

The signing payment is a one-time cash amount given to Indigenous leaders when a treaty was signed. This immediate payment was meant to seal the agreement and acknowledge the surrender or sharing of lands, and its size varied by treaty, typically ranging from a few dollars up to about twelve dollars per person. It’s distinct from the longer-term promises that followed, such as annuities, reserves, or education and farming aids that continued after signing. So the option describing a payment upon signing the treaty matches what was actually promised at the moment of the agreement, while the other items refer to ongoing or later benefits rather than the initial signing payment.