The Northern Territory Chief Minister has confirmed the Treaty Commissioner Mick Dodson intends to resign once he comes back from sick leave, but where does that leave treaty negotiations?
In a panel discussion over the weekend, as a part of the Garrmalang festival in Darwin, questions were raised about whether the Northern Territory is actually ready for reconciliation.
The panel's moderator Ben Abbatangelo, a Gunaikurnai and Wotjobaluk man, said he doubted the NT government's intentions for a treaty.
"For us to really come together and form some sort of consensus, we've got to engage in these notions of trust, of forgiveness, of empathy and compassion.
"How do Aboriginal people, in spite of everything that we've been subjugated to, come to the table to enter into an agreement with the very people or institutions who have monetised our suffering?"
NT Deputy Treaty Commissioner Ursula Raymond said everyone needed to come together as a community.
'"It's everyone's responsibility, not just Aboriginal people's responsibility," she said.
"There is also this notion that we have to concede all the time.
The panel, which was centred around treaty negotiations, did not address the allegations against the current Treaty Commissioner that he had verbally abused women.
Northern Territory Chief Minister Michael Gunner said the Treaty Commissioner intended to resign.
"The role of Treaty Commissioner is to lead this process and I do not believe this important role can be fulfilled while serious allegations of threatening and derogatory conduct by the Commissioner towards others are ongoing," he said.
"I, along with the Minister for Treaty, have therefore lost confidence in the Commissioner to perform his role and have expressed this to him. The Commissioner has indicated he intends to resign but, as he is currently on sick leave, his resignation remains pending."
The ABC has contacted Professor Dodson for comment.
