Indigenous Self-Government Institutions

Some states have created special governing institutions for Indigenous peoples, adding another layer to the division of power. In Canada, the territory of Nunavut was created in 1999 following the 1993 Nunavut Land Claims Agreement; its population is mostly Inuit, and its government works in Inuktitut as well as English and French. Greenland, part of the Kingdom of Denmark, gained home rule in 1979 and expanded self-government in 2009, which recognized Greenlandic as its official language and the Greenlandic people's right to independence.

Norway created the Sámi Parliament (Sámediggi) in 1989, with Finland and Sweden establishing similar bodies. New Zealand has had Māori seats in Parliament since 1867. These arrangements differ in power: some govern territory, others advise or manage cultural affairs. Supporters see them as recognizing distinct peoples; critics and some Indigenous leaders argue they often lack enough real authority or resources.