This week marks ten years since the United Nations adopted its first Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Although non-binding, the Declaration recognised the rights of indigenous peoples around the world to self-determination and proposed protections for their land and resources.

A decade ago, Canada, New Zealand, the United States and Australia — refused to ratify the document — saying it was incompatible with their own national laws.

But eventually all four countries reversed their decision — with Australia ratifying the Declaration in an official ceremony at Parliament House in 2009.