Indigenous knowledge

Recorded traditional knowledge or oral traditions

This guide is based on the Indigenous Reference Guidance for Indigenous Knowledges published by CAVAL and the Indigenous Archives Collective which outlines best practice when evaluating and citing Indigenous knowledge.

Indigenous cultural heritage belongs to Indigenous Peoples and does not adhere to Western conventions of knowledge ownership. Where possible, collaboration with Indigenous people is recommended to ensure information can be shared and accurately reflects their perspectives.

Before deciding how to cite Indigenous knowledges, please consult the Indigenous Knowledge Attribution Toolkit Decision Tree first to evaluate the content and authorship of the source you wish to use and consider the following:

  • Was the content collected with informed consent? Does it use outdated terminology. Is the content contemporary?
  • Is the author Indigenous themselves? Are there Indigenous authors in the field you could cite instead?
  • If you find sources are problematic but you would still like to use them, make it clear you have considered its limitations and justify why you still intend to use them.

Indigenous Knowledges belong not only to individual authors, but to wider Nations, Countries or Language groups. When citing Indigenous Knowledges, where it is known, include the author’s Nation/Country/Language Group in in the in-text citation and reference list entry.

Terms related to Indigenous Peoples need to be capitalised, such as names of nations or groups (Wurundjeri, Kalkadoon) and words related to Indigenous culture (Oral Traditions, Traditional Custodian), this demonstrates respect for Indigenous Peoples and perspectives.

In-text citations

(Author, Year, Nation/Country/Language Group) or (Author, Year, Nation/Country/Language Group, Page number)

...words and phrases related to woman spirit (Couzens, Keerray Wooroong; Gunditjmara, 2018).

As argued by Couzens (Keerray Wooroong; Gunditjmara), (2018) ...

"Daughters hold to carry on seven generations...and more" (Couzens, Keerray Wooroong; Gunditjmara, 2018, p.40).

Reference List

The follow examples are for a journal article entry. For more examples consult the Indigenous Reference Guidance for Indigenous Knowledges.

Template

Author Surname, Initial(s). (Nation/Country/Language Group). (Year). Title of journal article. Journal name, Volume(edition), Page number(s). DOI address

Example

Couzens, V. (Keerray Wooroong; Gunditjmara). (2018). Woman spirit - weerreeyaar; Weerreeyaar - woman spirit. The Lifted Brow, 40, 60. https://doi.org/10.3316/informit.036973519792855

Unrecorded traditional knowledge or oral traditions

If the Traditional Knowledge or Oral Traditions have not been recorded and are therefore not recoverable by readers, cite them as personal communications with as much detail as possible. A reference entry is not needed.

If you spoke with an Indigenous person to find information but they were not a research participant, use a variation of the personal communication citation. Provide the person’s

  • Full name
  • Indigenous nation or group they belong to
  • Location
  • Any other relevant details about them
  • Follow with the words ‘personal communication’ and the exact date of correspondence. If communication was over a time period, give a date range.

Template (In-text citation only)

(Surname, Nation/Country/Language Group, personal communication, Month Day, Year)

Example

...passed on through generations (Faulkhead, Koorie, personal communication, November 4, 2022)

As shared by Faulkhead (Koorie), (personal communication, November 4, 2022) ...

Notes on style

  • If you are presenting an Oral History of research participants, use the usual format for quotations but no formal citation or reference entry is needed. Just state in the text that the quote is from a research participant.