US to promote native American languages and cultures

WASHINGTON, D.C.

President Barack Obama said Monday that the U.S. would incorporate Native American languages and cultures in school curriculums and social programs.

Obama spoke at  an event related to "My Brother’s Keeper," an initiative he launched in February to help youth of color in their education and careers. 

He also said his administration has been considering incorporating Latin American languages into school curricula.

Obama said he and the U.S. secretaries of education and the interior have been talking about incorporating Native American languages and culture into school curricula and social programs. 

"Because if young people come up proud of their past, then they’ll have a more powerful sense of direction going forward," said Obama. 

Quoting the Bible, Obama said "When you start losing your language and you start losing your culture and you don’t have a sense of connections to ancestors and those memories that date back generations, you start feeling adrift."

"This is something that we have to spend some time thinking about, making sure that we understand there’s a way of knowing your history, knowing your culture, being proud of it, using it as a strength but not thinking that there is just one way of you then having to act," said Obama.

"My Brother's Keeper" Initiative was launched as a $200 million fund over five years to help black and Latino youth.  

www.aa.com.tr/en