Indigenous scholars have long called for respectful ways of acknowledging Indigenous voices in research and writing. Within the academic world, many practices and processes are rooted in Eurocentric systems that place a higher value on Western knowledge rather than Indigenous oral traditions and ways of knowing (MacLeod, 2021).
In “More Than Personal Communication: Templates for Citing Indigenous Elders and Knowledge Keepers”, Lorisia MacLeod, member of the James Smith Cree Nation, states that when integrating oral teachings into academic writing, writers are encouraged to cite oral information as a ‘personal communication’. MacLeod argues that “to use the template for personal communication is to place an Indigenous oral teaching on the same footing as a quick phone call, giving it only a short in-text citation (as is the standard with personal communication citations) while even tweets are given a reference citation” (2021, p. 2. para. 1).
MacLeod and staff of the NorQuest Indigenous Student Centre have created templates to address this gap.
Although current APA guidelines state that oral teachings are cited in-text only and not included in the reference list, MacLeod recommends you include a full and complete reference both in-text and in the reference list.
Always consult with your instructor on their classroom citation preferences.
Best Practice: Elders and Knowledge Keepers should be cited in-text and in the reference list.
Delores Cardinal described the nature of the... (2004).
OR
The nature of the place was... (Cardinal, 2004).
Last name, First initial., Nation/Community. Treaty Territory if applicable. Where they live if applicable. Topic/subject of communication if applicable. personal communication. Month Date, Year.
Cardinal, D., Goodfish Lake Cree Nation. Treaty 6. Lives in Edmonton. Oral teaching. personal communication. April 4, 2004.
Thank you to Lorisia MacLeod, member of the James Smith Cree Nation, for developing the templates and best practices, and providing permissions for the NSCC to share this content.
MacLeod, L. (2021). More than personal communication: Templates for citing Indigenous Elders and Knowledge Keepers. KULA: Knowledge Creation, Dissemination, and Preservation Studies, 5(1). https://doi.org/10.18357/kula.135
This video includes guidance developed by librarians at NorQuest College, UBC's X̱wi7x̱wa Library, and Simon Fraser University, and may not align with the guidance found in the APA Style Manual (7th ed.).
Always consult with your instructor on their classroom citation preferences.
Chong, R. (2021). Indigenous information literacy: Elder citation APA. KPU Library. https://youtu.be/60yTwk3Ngx0?si=4XUdla4q0VcyPUUM
If you would like to approach an Elder or Knowledge Keeper for teachings, follow protocol or if you are unsure what their protocol is, please ask them ahead of time. Traditional Knowledge and Oral Traditions are cultural property and should not be used without consent from the Indigenous Peoples in which the knowledge and/or traditions originate.
When writing about Indigenous Peoples, use the name that they call themselves. In general, refer to an Indigenous group as a “people” or “nation” rather than as a “tribe.” In Canada, refer to the Indigenous Peoples collectively as “Indigenous Peoples” or “Aboriginal Peoples”
Using respectful and inclusive language is an essential part of reconciliation and relationship building. Specify the nation or people if possible. If you are unsure, respectfully ask an individual how they would like to be referred to.
People of the First Nations of Canada, People of the First Nations, or First Nations People; Métis; Inuit
Capitalize most terms related to Indigenous Peoples. These include names of specific groups (e.g., Mi’kmaq, Maliseet, Cherokee, Cree, Ojibwe) and words related to Indigenous culture (e.g., Creation, the Creator, Elder, Oral Tradition, Traditional Knowledge, Vision Quest). The capitalization is intentional and demonstrates respect for Indigenous perspectives.
To learn more about respectful and inclusive writing and language practices, refer to the resources listed below:
