Warren Mundine has criticised the embedding of Indigenous culture, especially in subjects such as science and maths.
But at the same time he is pushing for Indigenous languages to be revived.
“I believe that if were going to teach Aboriginal languages then we got to spend resources on it," he said. "The disappearance of our language is massive and to retain them and to keep them and to build upon them, we need to put resources in that area."
"I’m not a supporter of Aboriginal English, I’m more of a supporter in spending money, time and effort in retaining, teaching and building upon the languages that have been around for the last 45,000 years at least,” said Mr Mundine.
With over 100 Aboriginal languages in the Northern Territory alone, the push to see traditional tongues in the National Curriculum may gain greater momentum.
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In January the Federal Education Minister Christopher Pyne launched a review into the National Curriculum, with a focus on Australia's place in Asia, Indigenous Australia and sustainability.
Mr Mundine has echoed Mr Pyne's questioning of whether those core themes fit with maths and science.
“I’d be quite interested in how they can say you can have Aboriginal maths in comparison to Chinese maths, in comparison to European maths."
"Maths is maths, how you get the ideas and how you teach it and how to use resources and that, that’s a different matter,” said Mr Mundine.
