Aboriginal people almost take for granted the level of abuse depicted in footage of young boys being mistreated at Darwin's Don Dale detention centre, says Mick Gooda.
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social justice commissioner made the comments at the Garma festival in northeast Arnhem Land on Sunday.
"Australia is shocked at the level of violence that us Aboriginal people almost take for granted," Mr Gooda said.
"What we have seen is in part the consequences of people thinking their conduct is not required to meet the standards and will not be held accountable for their actions. This must change.
"This week we've entered one of our prisons and what we saw not only questions our civilisation, it questions our humanity."
He says the royal commission announced by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull last week must look at the role of race, as well as the action of the guards at Don Dale.
He also urged the inclusion of Aboriginal people in finding solutions to the problem.
"This royal commission must deliver more than a set of recommendations that remains on a shelf like so many reports of royal commissions and inquiries that have been done in the past," Mr Gooda said.
