The Albanese government has established a ‘Makarrata Commission’ with a budget of $5.8 million dollars. So, what is this word ‘makarrata’? Every time you hear it think ‘treaty’ because that’s exactly what it means in Australian English. ‘Makarrata’ is a Yolngu word from Arnhem Land. It was chosen as the appropriate indigenous word for ‘treaty’ by Dr.