A study of laws relating to Australia's indigenous peoples and of the impact of general law on Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders. Topics include: elements of pre-contact and post-contact history; questions of definition and identity; the nature of Indigenous law, and Australian responses to Indigenous laws; issues of sovereignty and autonomy; native title and statutory land rights, issues of racial discrimination, criminal justice and child welfare; proposals for Reconciliation . Reference is made to developments in international law and to comparative materials from countries such as Canada, USA and New Zealand.