Newly appointed Minister for Indigenous Australians, Malarndirri McCarthy, has downplayed comments made by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese where he seemingly walked away from his commitment to the Makarrata commission.

Ms McCarthy's comments come after Anthony Albanese told the ABC's Insiders program on Sunday that talking to Indigenous organisations - including land councils, was the best way to engage with First Nations people, as opposed to setting up a formal commission to oversee agreements and truth-telling.

Speaking on ABC News Breakfast, Senator McCarthy said she had read the Mr Albanese's comments on Monday morning, but argued the comments reported were not the ones she heard.

"When I was at Gulkula in Arnhem Land beside the prime minister, that's clearly not what I heard," Senator McCarthy said.

"He certainly gave very strong principle support for the Uluru Statement from the Heart."

Named after a Yolŋu word for coming together after a struggle, Makarrata is the culmination of the Uluru Statement from the Heart, however the PM seemingly pushed away from a commitment to truth-telling in a formal setting at last weekend's Garma Festival.

Asked about the comments by one the architects of the Uluru Statement, Pat Anderson, where she called on the government to embark on a Truth and Justice Commission, the PM told Insiders: "Well, that's not what we have proposed. What we've proposed is Makarrata just being the idea of coming together…"

Late on Sunday night, Ms Anderson said she feared the PM was abandoning his government's commitment to create a Makarrata, or Indigenous truth-telling, commission, by trying to reduce it to "a vague vibe or a series of casual conversations".

"The prime minister's comments are confusing. Is he rolling back on the Labor election commitment to the Makarrata commission? We understand that a constitutional voice didn't get up, but the Australian people didn't vote on truth or treaty," Ms Anderson said in a statement.

"The Makarrata called for in the Uluru statement was a bricks and mortar body and a clear election promise."

Asked about comments from Ms Anderson, Senator McCarthy said she could understand there could be some confusion because "the question is purely around one element".

"I would caution everyone to just calm down. This has been a significant weekend at Gulkula … We are not moving away from our commitment to the Uluru Statement from the Heart," she said, highlighting the "soul-shattering event" that was last year's referendum defeat.

"The prime minister made that commitment on election night … I'm saying that the interpretation of what the prime minister said has been taken completely further than what it was meant to."

Pressed on whether Mr Albanese misspoke in his comments on Makarrata, the Senator argued: "I'm saying that the interpretation of what the prime minister said has been taken completely further than what it was meant to."

"The prime minister was very genuine in his return to the Yolŋu people. He was given a sacred totem, which is not to be smeared at, not to be laughed at, and not to be disrespected," she said.

"The Yolŋu people were very strong about the fact that he was strong as a prime minister to take the voice to the people of Australia.

"I'm not sure how many times I can say that the principles of the Uluru Statement from the Heart are very much supported by our government."

At the weekend the ABC reported Yes campaign director during the referendum, Dean Parkin, said the Uluru Statement was clear and that Makarrata was about a commission.

"That was the election night commitment, it was to the full implementation of the Uluru Statement from the Heart…[it's] is very, very clear on that point," Mr Parkin said.

"The Uluru Statement from the Heart is very, very clear on that point, that it is a Makarrata commission. So it's a high expectation, because that commitment was made in good faith."

At Garma, Mr Albanese said the government's focus for Indigenous affairs would shift to economic prosperity, empowerment and jobs.

On the PM's comments, Mr Parkin said: "It makes sense there's a focus on economic development. I think it makes sense to still be pressure from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to continue to see more progress on things like Makarrata and treaty and truth-telling."