About 30,000 people braved the Canberra cold for the Anzac day dawn service this morning, but less than 100 made the journey to an Indigenous veteran memorial service just behind the Australian War Memorial.

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commemorative Ceremony began informally about a decade ago to acknowledge the war effort of Indigenous servicemen and women.

Indigenous people have served in every major war that Australia has fought in, but were often subject to discrimination as soon as they stepped back onto Australian soil.

This year, the Indigenous commemoration was announced after the dawn service was completed and was printed in the service guide.

But few of the tens of thousands of people who packed the front of the war memorial attended the ceremony, which was held thirty minutes after the dawn service.

President of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Veterans and Services Association Gary Oakley, who joined the navy at 15, said that it was an informal ceremony and then gave a short history of the Indigenous contribution to war.

"Indigenous people have been serving since before federation," Mr Oakley told those gathered.

"In World War I they answered the call quickly. We're not sure how many have served and we're not sure how many there are today."

Mr Oakley said that there was often a lack of records concerning Indigenous soldiers.

"They didn't have to tick the box saying that you were Aboriginal, it was up to you.

"For some guys there was no way in hell that they would tick the box. It's not because they were ashamed of being Indigenous, it was because they wanted to do the job, and do it quietly.”

Mr Oakley said that there were many reasons Indigenous people would be attracted to the armed forces, despite the fact they were fighting for a country who didn't even recognise them as citizens at the time.

"Why would anyone join? Well no one really knows but there is patriotism, love of country and in World War I, the opportunity to get out of a rut," he said.

"The Australian Defence Force was the first equal opportunity commission for our people.

"They didn't give a damn what colour you were, as long as you put on that uniform."

"...As soon as they took that uniform off they lost that equality."

The Indigenous contribution at home could not be underestimated either, Mr Oakley said, especially in the top end.

"In the Northern Territory, many of the services were run by Indigenous people," Mr Oakley said.

"In the Northern Territory, many of the services were run by Indigenous people whether it was managing stocks, slaughter yards etc.

"If it wasn't for Indigenous people in the top end and the Northern Territory, more people would have died. But Indigenous people were quite achievers, they came and they went."

Mr Oakley said in some ways it was a detriment, with Aboriginal people missing out on social benefits such as soldier's pensions.

"There was a Soldier Settlement scheme, but only one Aboriginal soldier got it, the rest went back and disappeared," he said.

But Mr Oakley said things are changing. For example, the Department of Veteran Affairs now has an Indigenous Liaison Officer.

And although it was "disgusting" that things like this could happen in Australia, he was still "proud to have served my country".

Even though the rest of Australia still may forget the Indigenous people who served in the war effort, Mr Oakley said that armed services were still beneficial.

"Indigenous people have a long history and tradition of serving in the armed forces. It has been a great leveller, a great opportunity for Indigenous people," he said.