The Ainu are an ethnic group . It now is run exclusively by Ainu and operates mostly independently of the government . Other key institutions include The Foundation for Research and Promotion of Ainu Culture ( FRPAC ) , set up by the Japanese Government after enactment of the Ainu Culture Law in 1997 , the Hokkaido University Center for Ainu and Indigenous Studies established in 2007 , as well as museums and cultural centers .