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'''Aborigines''' are the main group of [[indigenous Australians]].

'''Aborigines''' are the main group of [[indigenous Australians]].

[[Archaeology|Archaeological]] evidence has led some researchers to claim that there has been 40 to 45 thousand years of continuous occupation of the [[Australia]]n mainland by indigenous people. However, [[Young Earth Creationist|Young Earth Creationists]] contend that the universe is only 6,000 years old, so they consider this conclusion to be mistaken.  Since the colonisation of [[Australia]] by [[Britain]] in 1788, the original inhabitants of [[Australia]] have been known until recently as “Aborigines”. They make up about 2.4% of Australia's population.

Aborigines were affected since [[English]] settlement in 1788. They have faced issues similar, but more extreme than the Native Americans, and currently make up only 2.4% of Australia's population. A substantial number of well-educated politicly liberal Americans don't know the Aborigines even existed, despite their inhabiting Australia long before the American Indians came to America.

==History==

==History==

It is unknown how the Aborigines came to Australia. The only realistic case is that they came over the sea from Indonesia; however, this would mean that they had vastly superior boat building skills compared to the rest of the world at that time (as strong boats would be needed to ferry whole families across the rough sea around Australia). Also, it would appear that, once they reached Australia, they immediately forgot their theoretical boat building skills and never went far out to sea again. We are still unsure as to how Australia was populated.

The Aborigines came over the sea from Indonesia; however, long boat voyages were nearly impossible. Instead, they took advantage of lower sea levels and migrated short distances between islands. These "boats" could have been little more than well-made rafts. The people weren't completely isolated, as they had contact with sailers from the north for thousands of years.  

Before white settlement of Australia, the distribution of the Aboriginal population was much the same as the modern population distribution, but at a much lower level. Today, the fertile regions with a temperate climate are dominated by the white Australian community. In most southern and eastern areas, Aborigines have either assimilated, died out, or been pushed out. Only in the central and northern parts of the country are there significant communities of Aborigines living on and in control of their traditional lands.

Before white settlement of Australia, the distribution of the Aboriginal population was much the same as the modern population distribution, but at a much lower level. Today, the fertile regions with a temperate climate are dominated by the white Australian community. In most southern and eastern areas, Aborigines have either assimilated, died out, or been pushed out. Only in the central and northern parts of the country are there significant communities of Aborigines living on and in control of their traditional lands.