The Australian government has made a formal apology for the past wrongs caused by successive governments on the indigenous aboriginal population.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd apologised in parliament to all aborigines for laws and policies that "inflicted profound grief, suffering and loss".
He singled out the "Stolen Generations" of thousands of children forcibly removed from their families.
The apology, beamed live around the country on TV, was met with cheers.
But some aborigines say it should have been accompanied with compensation for their suffering.
In a motion passed unanimously by Australian MPs yesterday morning, Mr Rudd acknowledged the "past mistreatment" of all of his country's aboriginal population.
For the indignity and degradation thus inflicted on a proud people and a proud culture, we say sorry.