Traditional Knowledge or Oral Traditions of Indigenous Peoples

Citing the Traditional Knowledge and Oral Histories of Indigenous peoples may occur in several different ways:

If the information is recorded in a format that can be found again (e.g. video, audio, interview transcript), cite it in the text and include an entry for that type of source in your reference list.

Example: In-Text

Mumilaaq Qaqqaq notes that "mumi is dance (in Inuktitut) and laaq is little one" (Neary, 2019, para. 13).

Example: Reference List

Neary, D. (2019, Nov. 13). Quaqqaq to bring NDP leader Jagmeet Singh to Nunavut. Nunavut News. https://nunavutnews.com/nunavut-news/qaqqaq-to-bring-ndp-leader-to-nunavut/

If you spoke directly with an Indigenous person, use a version of the citation format used for personal communications:
You should include the person's full name along with the nation or specific Indigenous group that they are a part of. If there are other details that are relevant, such as location, include that information too. Next, write "personal communication" and the specific date when the communication took place. It is important that you ask for permission to include the person's name in your assignment.

Example: In-Text

Mary Two-Axe Earley (Kanien'kehá:ka [Mohawk] elder, from the reserve of Kahnawà:ke, Quebec, Canada, personal communication, March 1995) explained how the Indian Act discriminated against First Nations women. She described...

Example: Reference List

Not included in Reference List.

If you are an Indigenous person sharing your own experiences or the Traditional Knowledge or Oral Tradition of your people, include a description of yourself as part of the text to help add context about where the information originated. For example, you may want to consider including the nation you belong to.

Be very careful when working with published works, especially older works, to ensure that the information about Indigenous peoples is accurate and appropriate to share. For example, some stories are told only at certain times of year or by certain people.

Tips

See the APA Manual (8.9) for more information and examples.

Who is an Elder or Knowledge Keeper? (video)

This video will introduce you to citing Indigenous Elders and Knowledge Keepers. As you watch, consider what defines an Elder or Knowledge Keeper.

Please note this video includes guidance developed by Indigenous librarians at NorQuest College, UBC's Library, and Simon Fraser University, and may not align exactly with the guidance found in the APA Style Manual (7th ed.).