Indigenous change 'comes before republic'

Prominent indigenous figure Noel Pearson says the issues of a republic and indigenous recognition in the constitution need to be kept separate.

There were "constitutional conservatives" and monarchists who wanted indigenous people recognised.

"The important question of indigenous recognition should be the first cab off the rank and the question of whether Australia should become a republic should be a subsequent and different question," Mr Pearson told the National Press Club in Canberra on Wednesday.