At Trent University, all undergraduate students take at least one half-credit Indigenous content course. Many of these courses require students to write essays and create assignments that incorporate evidence and information that draws upon Indigenous Knowledges, Traditions, and Voices. Until recently though, citation format suggestions for the ideas and teachings belonging to, or created by Indigenous People, Scholars, Elders, and Knowledge Keepers have been limited to either ‘other materials’ or personal communications. Indigenous Scholars, such as MacLeod (2021), Shawanda (2023), and Younging (2025), have developed guides recommending ways to cite and reference many forms of Indigenous Knowledges, practices, traditions, and voices, and more post-secondary institutions are following these recommendations to honour and respect these sources by properly acknowledging them.
This guide discusses in more detail how the American Psychological Association (APA), the Modern Languages Association (MLA), and the Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS) can be enhanced to cite Indigenous, Teachings and Voices in assignments. As well as discussing citation formats, this guide also offers important tips on how to write sensitively, meaningfully, and appropriately about Indigenous Peoples, their traditions and practices, their ways of knowing, being and doing, their voices and their history.
This guide is meant to provide some basic information; it is not meant to replace the guidance you are given by your course instructors. It is important to follow the guidelines and guidance given by your individual course instructors about referencing and citing Indigenous sources of knowledge; for example, some traditions, practices, teachings and ceremonies are sacred and not to be shared, others are shared only at certain times of year. Please default to your course guidelines if you are not sure if you can use a particular Indigenous Knowledge as a source.
- General Writing Guidance: Indigenous People, Knowledge, Practices, and Traditions
- Citing and Referencing Indigenous Knowledge and Oral Traditions
- References: Writing About and Citing Indigenous Knowledges
Acknowledgements and Gratitude
We believe it is important and necessary to properly acknowledge Indigenous Knowledges, Practices, Voices, and Traditions, and we are grateful for the guidance provided in published works by Indigenous scholars, including Lorisia MacLeod of James Smith Cree Nation (2021), Amy Shawanda, an Anishinaabe woman from Wikwemikong Unceded Territory, Manitoulin Island (2023), and Gregory Younging of Opaskwayak Cree Nation (2025). We also extend our gratitude to generous and thoughtful scholars and colleagues from the Chanie Wenack School for Indigenous Studies and Trent Teaching Commons at Trent University, Barbara Moktthewenkwe Wall (Citizen Potawatomi Nation of Shawnee, Oklahoma) and Mitch Huguenin (Métis Nation). Barb and Mitch offered their time, knowledge, and guidance, which were essential to this work.
This guide is a living document that we are committed to updating and developing to include additional examples to represent diverse Indigenous Knowledges and Peoples living in Canada and internationally. We welcome your suggestions for additional references to explore or examples to share to support the practice of respectful recognition of Indigenous Knowledge and the work of Indigenous peoples.