On October 28, Venezuela will distribute 28 different indigenous language textbooks to indigenous schools throughout the country. According to Prensa Latina, the coordinator of the Ministry of Indigenous Education, Jorge Pocaterra, said the books will be published in Currico, Guarikena, Yekuana, Piaroa, Vare, Pari, Yupka, Wayuú, Guarao and Kariña languages. There are approximately 540,000 indigenous people living in Venezuela who speak 34 languages.
La Agencia Bolivariana de Noticias (ABN) reported Pocaterra as saying, "We hope to bring these [books] to all the natives who live dispersed throughout national territory. For this reason, the books will be sent to all the regions where we have detected indigenous groups." Pocaterra added that the books will even be distributed in states with very small indigenous populations, such as Lara, Tachira, Trujillo, Merida, and Portuguesa.
The books that will be available to the indigenous youth include dictionaries, grammar textbooks, beginning reading textbooks and other basic education books. According to ABN, Pocaterra emphasized that the Ministry of Indigenous Education has created schools which respect the use of indigenous languages, traditions, customs and values.
