Land Acknowledgement

The lands on which Memorial University’s campuses are situated are in the traditional territories of diverse Indigenous groups, and we acknowledge with respect the diverse histories and cultures of the Beothuk, Mi’kmaq, Innu, and Inuit of this province.

About This Guide

There are currently no existing formal MLA Style guidelines for citing Indigenous Elders and Knowledge Keepers. The following citation styles for citing traditional knowledge were developed by the NorQuest College Library and Kwantlen Polytechnic Library. We recommend you consult these examples as we work towards adapting these styles for our local context in consultation with the Indigenous communities of our province. 

For more information about the importance of developing citation styles for traditional knowledge, and an expansion on the components included in the citation formats below, see MacLeod, 2021.

Before beginning research involving Indigenous Groups, please review MUNL’s Research Impacting Indigenous Groups Policy.

MLA Style

In-text citations

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.

Example:

Delores Cardinal described the nature of the... 

OR

The nature of the place was... (Cardinal).

 

Reference list entries

Format:

Last name, First names, Elder, Nation/Community.

Topic/subject of communication if applicable. Personal

communication, Date Month Year. Territorial Acknowledgement

of where the information was shared/collected.

Example:

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.