Since the beginning of the 19th century, Australia and the islands of the Pacific have been grouped into a region called Oceania.[13][14] It is often considered a proper continent, with the Pacific Ocean being the defining characteristic.[15] 19th century definitions encompassed the region as beginning in the Malay Archipelago, and as ending near the Americas.[14][16][17][18][19] Islands with historical ties to the Asian mainland (such as those in the Malay Archipelago) are rarely included in present definitions of Oceania, nor are islands near Alaska, Canada and Russia.[20][21] Many consider Australia to be a continent-sized landmass, although they are still sometimes viewed as a Pacific Island;[22] this is partly due to their Indigenous population, who have been associated with the natives of areas such as Melanesia.[23] Australia is a founding member of the Pacific Islands Forum, which is now recognized as the main governing body for the Oceania region.[24] By 2021, the Pacific Islands Forum included all sovereign Pacific Island nations, such as Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji and Tonga, in addition to dependencies of other nations, such as American Samoa, French Polynesia and Guam. Islands which have been fully integrated into other nations, including Easter Island (Chile) and Hawaii (United States), have also shown interest in joining.[25] Tony deBrum, Foreign Minister for the Marshall Islands, stated in 2014, "Not only [is Australia] our big brother down south, Australia is a member of the Pacific Islands Forum and Australia is a Pacific island, a big island, but a Pacific island."[22]