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Cite Indigenous sources in Chicago

Learn how to cite Indigenous sources in Chicago Note 18 style. Follow respectful practices for oral traditions and cultural knowledge with correct attribution and formatting.

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 Does it use outdated terminology.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 the in-text citation and reference list entry.

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

Footnotes

  • When referencing traditional knowledge include the author’s Nation/Country/Language Group if known in brackets after their name.
  • The following example is for a journal article. For any other sources, include the author’s Nation/Country/Language Group if known in brackets after their name, then refer to the specific source page in FedCite.
Citation format Example
Template # First Name Last Name (Nation/Country/Language Group), "Article Title," Journal name volume, no. # (year): Page(s), DOI or URL. 
Full note 1 Vicki Couzens (Keerray Wooroong; Gunditjmara), "Woman spirit - weerreeyaar; Weerreeyaar - woman spirit," The Lifted Brow 40 (2018): 60, https://doi.org/10.3316/informit.036973519792855.
Subsequent note 5 Couzens (Keerray Wooroong; Gunditjmara), "Woman spirit,” 40.  

Bibliography

When referencing traditional knowledge include the author’s Nation/Country/Language Group if known in brackets after their name.

Reference format Example
Template

Last Name, First Name (Nation/Country/Language Group). "Article Title." Journal name volume, no. # (year): Page(s). DOI or URL. 
Bibliography entry

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

Footnotes

  • 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.
  • If you had a conversation with an Indigenous person to find information but they were not a research participant, use a variation of the personal communication citation. Provide the following information:
    • Full name
    • Indigenous nation or group they belong to
    • Any other relevant details about them
    • Follow with the style of communication (conversation with author, email message to author, etc.) and the exact date of correspondence. If communication was over a time period, give a date range.
Citation format Example
Template # First Name Last Name (Nation/Country/Language Group), conversation with author, Month Day, Year.  
Full note 1 Shannon Faulkhead (Koorie), conversation with author, November 4, 2022.  
Subsequent note 5 Faulkhead (Koorie), conversation with author.  

Bibliography

No bibliography entry required.

Additional Information

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.