This essay examines some of the distinctive or unique institutions of governance in the territorial North. The purpose of so doing is two-fold: first, to draw to wider attention the unusual and innovative structures and processes of government operating in the North and second, to demonstrate that alternatives beyond the status quo exist for national and provincial political institutions, provided that they reflect the values and experiences of the societies in which they are embedded. The influence of Aboriginal peoples on political institutions and processes is a prominent theme. In addition, variations between and among the three territories (due in substantial measure to the different positions and approaches of their Aboriginal peoples) are highlighted. Northern institutions are treated not as exotic curiosities, but as responses to particular political needs and social contexts.
