Cite indigenous sources in MLA
Learn how to cite Indigenous sources in MLA style. Follow respectful practices for oral traditions and cultural knowledge with correct attribution and formatting.
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 Does it use outdated terminology.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
| Citation format | Example |
| Template |
(Author, Nation/Country/Language Group, Page number). or Author, (Nation/Country/Language Group) … text … (Page number) |
| Paraphrase |
...words and phrases related to woman spirit (Couzens, Keerray Wooroong; Gunditjmara, 60). As argued by Vicki Couzens (Keerray Wooroong; Gunditjmara) words and phrases related to woman spirit are … (60). |
| Direct quote | "Daughters hold to carry on seven generations...and more" (Couzens, Keerray Wooroong; Gunditjmara, 60). |
Works cited
The following examples are for a journal article entry. For more examples, consult the Indigenous Reference Guidance for Indigenous Knowledges.
| Reference format | Example |
| Template | Authors. (Nation/Country/Language Group). “Title of Article.” Journal Name, volume, number, year, page range. Database, doi/URL. |
| Works cited entry |
Couzens, Vicki. (Keerray Wooroong; Gunditjmara). “Woman Spirit - Weerreeyaar; Weerreeyaar - Woman Spirit.” The Lifted Brow, no. 40, 2018, p. 60. Informit, https://search.informit.org/doi/10.3316/informit.036973519792855 |
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.
In-text citations
| Citation format | Example |
| Template |
Text … (Sender). Sender (Nation, Country, Language Group) text … |
| Paraphrase |
Oral traditions are … (Robertson). Malcom Faulkhead (Koorie) explained that … |
Works cited
| Reference format | Example |
| Template |
Sender. Form to/with Name (Nation/Country/Language Group) subject line. Day Month Year. Sender (Nation/Country/Language Group). Form to/with the author. Day Month Year. |
| Works cited entry |
Robertson, Thomas. Email to Malcom Faulkhead (Koorie). 12 May 2023. Faulkhead, Malcom (Koorie). Phone call conversation with the author. 14 May 2023. |
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.