A woman holds a salmon and raises her hand in a gesture of welcome to students and employees, as well as to the salmon as they swim up the nearby Coquitlam River. The salmon represents the Kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem) Nation, on whose traditional territory the Coquitlam Campus is located. Red cedar was chosen for the figure because of its significance in Coast Salish culture: It’s known as the “tree of life” because of its many uses for the Coast Salish peoples.
“The woman symbolizes the education needed for one’s journey. She also symbolizes the Welcoming, of the students and the Salmon. She nurtures the young and prepares them for their long journey. As does the College. She is a symbol of strength and of hope for all living things.” – Gerry Sheena, artist
The examples in this guide follow the templates recommended by librarian Lorisia MacLeod (James Smith Cree Nation) and her work with NorQuest College Indigenous Student Centre.
Elements of Indigenous style: A guide for writing by and about Indigenous Peoples by 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
In this report Lorisia MacLeod (James Smith Cree Nation) introduces citation templates for Indigenous Elders and Knowledge Keepers. The citation templates have been adopted/linked to by twenty-five institutions across Canada and the United States. They represent an attempt to formalize something that Indigenous scholars have been doing for decades: fighting to find a better way to acknowledge our voices and knowledges within academia.
Many First Nations languages require a number of characters that are not available on the standard English keyboard.
Below are two sites that have information about how to type certain characters or download Indigenous language keyboards.
UBC FNEL Program - The First Nations Unicode Font, is available to anyone with the goal of promoting documentation of and literacy in First Nations languages. The First Nations Unicode Font [FNuni_v2.3] allows you to see and type certain characters used in First Nations languages. These characters will only display if you install the font on your computer. You can download First Nations Unicode Font for Windows or Macintosh by clicking the links available on the site.
First Voices also has information and instructions on how to download and install indigenous language keyboards.
Douglas College respectfully acknowledges that our campuses are located on the unceded traditional and ancestral lands of the Coast Salish Peoples, including the territories of the q̓íc̓əy̓ (Katzie), qʼʷa:n̓ƛʼən̓ (Kwantlen), kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem), xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), and qiqéyt (Qayqayt) First Nations.
APA, MLA and Chicago citation styles do not have a format for Indigenous Elders and Knowledge Keepers. They recommend citing Elders using the 'personal communication' option which is in text only and not in the references/works cited lists.
However, in the spirit of reconciliation and decolonization, Douglas College Library recognizes that Indigenous Elders and Knowledge keepers should be elevated as important information sources and we recommend and encourage researchers include them in the reference list. The library has investigated other Canadian University and College libraries working on decolonizing citations and has also consulted with our Douglas College Elder in Residence, the Director of Indigenous Academic Initiatives and Indigenous Student Services and we recommend you use the examples below in your research papers.
Respect
Citing in this way gives Indigenous and traditional knowledge the level of respect it deserves, it frames First Nations oral tradition as authoritative and provides more respect and acknowledgment of Indigenous Elder and Knowledge keepers wisdom.
Protocol
If you would like to approach an Elder or Knowledge Keeper for teachings, remember to follow protocol or if you are unsure what their protocol is, please ask them ahead of time. Also, discuss how the Elder and/or Knowledge Keeper would like to be known in a citation (i.e. Indigenous name, English name, community), and what information is okay to be shared in your research paper/assignment.
Check with your faculty instructor
Your faculty instructor will expect APA, MLA, or Chicago so choose the best adaptations (below) for your required citation style but alert your instructor you would like to use these adapted recommendations for your Indigenous Knowledge keeper/Elder sources. If your instructor wants you to use American Antiquity style (eg. Anthropology), this style already acknowledges Indigenous wisdom and cites both in text and in the reference list.
Summary: While working at NorQuest College Libraries, Lorisia MacLeod (James Smith Cree Nation) worked with the Indigenous Student Centre to develop new citation templates to be used in APA and MLA for citing Indigenous Elders and Knowledge Keepers. These citation formats are meant to promote the culturally respectful use of Indigenous knowledge and people in research.
Are citation practices fair to Indigenous scholars? Who scholars cite, how scholars cite, and what sources are considered authoritative to cite can validate and legitimize knowledge or oppress knowledge. Frequently, Indigenous ways of knowing (oral teachings and histories in particular) are delegitimized in academia by citational politics. In this session, learn more about “citational politics,” the existing templates for citing Indigenous Elders and Knowledge Keepers, and about the current initiatives at X̱wi7x̱wa to further legitimize citing Indigenous Elders and Knowledge Keepers in academia. Bronwen McKie: A student Librarian at X̱wi7x̱wa Library and a senior MASLIS candidate at the UBC iSchool.
The recommended adaptations below allow for Indigenous Elders and Knowledge Keepers to be cited not only in-text but in the reference list as well. Your instructor will expect APA which does not cite personal communications in the reference list so check with your instructor first when following these examples.
APA template
Last name, First initial. (Elder/Knowledge Keeper), Nation/Community. Treaty territory if applicable. Where they live if applicable. Topic/subject of communication if applicable. personal communication. Month Date, Year. Territory Acknowledgement of where information was shared/collected.
Example 1:
Larrabee, R., (Knowledge Keeper), Qayqayt First Nation. Lives in New Westminster. Community memories. personal communication. November 21, 2023. Shared on the traditional unceded territory and ancestral lands of the Coast Salish Peoples, including the territories of the Katzie, Kwantlen, Kwikwetlem, Musqueam, and Qayqayt First Nations.
In text examples
Parenthetical
(Larrabee, 2023).
Narrative
Larabee (2023) explained that ...
Example 2
Lekeyten (Elder), Kwantlen First Nation. Community justice. personal communication. 2019, April 19. Shared on the traditional unceded territory of the Kwantlen, Musqueam, Katzie, Semiahmoo, Tsawwassen, Qayqayt, and Kwikwetlem Peoples.
In-text
Parenthetical
(Lekeyten, 2019).
Narrative
Lekeyten (2019) explained that ...
More information on efforts to decolonize citation can be found here.
The recommended adaptations below allow for Indigenous Elders and Knowledge Keepers to be cited not only in-text but in the reference list as well. Your instructor will expect MLA which does not cite personal communications in the reference list so check with your instructor first when following these examples.
MLA Works cited template
Last name, First name. Elder/Knowledge Keeper. Nation/Community. Treaty Territory if applicable. City/Community they live in if applicable. Topic/subject of communication. Date Month Year. Territory Acknowledgement of where information was shared/collected.
Example 1
Larrabee, Rhonda. Knowledge Keeper. Qayqayt First Nation. Lives in New Westminster. Oral Teachings and Memories. 21 November 2023. Shared on the traditional unceded territory and ancestral lands of the Coast Salish Peoples, including the territories of the Katzie, Kwantlen, Kwikwetlem, Musqueam, and Qayqayt First Nations.
In-text example
Qayqayt history of the area was ... (Larrabee).
Example 2
Lekeyten, Elder, Kwantlen First Nation. Community Justice. Personal communication, 4 April, 2019. Shared on the traditional unceded territory of the Kwantlen, Musqueam, Katzie, Semiahmoo, Tsawwassen, Qayqayt, and Kwikwetlem Peoples.
In-text example
The traditional unceded territory of Kwantlen First Nation ... (Lekeyten).
More information on efforts to decolonize citation can be found here.
The recommended adaptations below allow for Indigenous Elders and Knowledge Keepers to be cited not only in-text but in the reference list as well. Your instructor will expect Chicago Notes-Bibliography style which does not cite personal communications in the reference list so check with your instructor first when following these examples.
Footnote template:
1. First Name Last Name, Elder/Knowledge Keeper, Nation, Topic/subject of communication if appropriate, Personal communication, Territorial acknowledgment of where the information was shared, Month Date, Year.
Footnote examples:
1. Lekeyten (Elder), Kwantlen First Nation, Community Justice, Personal communication, Shared on the traditional unceded territory of the Kwantlen, Musqueam, Katzie, Semiahmoo, Tsawwassen, Qayqayt, and Kwikwetlem Peoples, April 9, 2019.
2. Rhonda Larrabee, (Knowledge Keeper), QayQyat First Nation, Oral Teaching and Memories, Personal communication, Shared on the traditional unceded territory and ancestral lands of the Coast Salish Peoples, including the territories of the Katzie, Kwantlen, Kwikwetlem, Musqueam, and Qayqayt First Nations, November 21, 2023.
Bibliography template
Last Name, First Name, Elder/Knowledge Keeper, Nation. Topic/subject of communication if appropriate. Personal communication. Territorial acknowledgment of where the information was shared. Month Date, Year.
Bibliography examples
Lekeyten (Elder), Kwantlen First Nation. Community Justice. Personal communication. Shared on the traditional unceded territory of the Kwantlen, Musqueam, Katzie, Semiahmoo, Tsawwassen, Qayqayt, and Kwikwetlem Peoples. April 9, 2019.
Larrabee, Rhonda (Knowledge Keeper), Qayqayt First Nation. Oral teachings and memories. Personal communication. Shared on the traditional unceded territory and ancestral lands of the Coast Salish Peoples, including the territories of the Katzie, Kwantlen, Kwikwetlem, Musqueam, and Qayqayt First Nations. November 21, 2023.
Author/Date in-text examples
Parenthetical
(First Name Last Name, nature or format of communication, Month Day, Year).
(Rhonda Larrabee, personal communication, November 21, 2023).
(Lekeyten, Elder, personal communication, April 9, 2019).
Narrative
In an interview, Rhonda Larrabee (personal communication, Nov 21, 2023) described QayQayt history in the area as ...
In an interview, Elder Lekeyten (personal communication, April 9, 2019) explained that ...
More information on efforts to decolonize citation can be found here.
American Antiquity separates personal communication from Indigenous Traditional knowledge and citation and therefore citation is both in text and in the reference list.
Section 3.12.16 Indigenous and Traditional Knowledge
To better allow recognition and citation of Indigenous and Traditional knowledge that comes in the form of oral teachings we offer the following guidance, adapted from work by Lorisia MacLeod. There is no single standard when sharing information communicated by Indigenous and Traditional authorities.
Examples.
Last name, First name, Middle initial [may use Indigenous name and/or name in Latin Script]. Year. Topic/subject of communication if applicable. Nation/Community.Treaty Territory (if applicable). City/Community they live in (if applicable). Month Date.
Cardinal, D. Goodfish 2004. Lake Cree Nation. Treaty 6. Lives in Edmonton. Oral teaching, personal communication, April 4.
In text
(D. Goodfish Cardinal 2004) or D. Goodfish Cardinal (2004)
Wadsworth, William, Kisha Supernant, Ave Dersch, and the Chipewyan Prairie First Nation. 2021. Integrating Remote Sensing and Indigenous Archaeology to Locate Unmarked Graves: A Case Study from Northern Alberta, Canada. Advances in Archaeological Practice 9(3):202–214.
In text (more than 3 authors)
(W. Wadsworth, et. al. 2021) or W. Wadsworth, et. al. (2021)