Australia was home to Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders for at least 65,000 years before Europeans settled the continent.
Their plight has been similar to that of the native people in the Americas, with thousands either killed in fights with the early settlers or indirectly by the diseases the settlers introduced.
Since then, the native people of Australia have suffered a decline in population, racial discrimination, and loss of their ancient cultures.
The Australian government is working to improve economic conditions for these native people and ensure their representation in national affairs.
