Referencing Indigenous Elders and Knowledge Keepers: Home
Referencing Indigenous Elders and Knowledge Keepers
Coast Mountain College Library recognizes that there are no established guidelines from APA, MLA, etc. to reference Indigenous Elders and Knowledge Keepers. Because of this we recommend that students and staff seeking to reference Indigenous Elders and Knowledge Keepers follow the guidelines established at NorQuest College by Lorisia MacLeod and NorQuest College Indigenous Student Centre staff. (reproduced below)
Unlike other personal communications, Elders and Knowledge Keepers are cited in-text and in the reference list. The in-text citation should follow the same guidelines noted for a paraphrase or direct quote.
Citing Elders and Knowledge Keepers (in-text)
Format:
Name of Elder/Knowledge Keeper with year of communication.
Example:
Delores Cardinal described the nature of the... (2018).
OR
The nature of the place was... (Cardinal, 2018).
Citing Elders and Knowledge Keepers (reference list)
Format:
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.
Example:
Cardinal, D., Goodfish Lake Cree Nation. Treaty 6. Lives in Edmonton. Oral teaching. personal communication. April 4, 2004.
