Chicago 18th (B) Author-Date

Indigenous knowledge

• Indigenous knowledge encompasses both traditional and evolving knowledges of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in many forms including cultural language, art, stories and dance, and the written word.
• Acknowledging this in academic writing is a way to show respect and recognise expertise. It is important to honour the authority of Traditional Knowledge and Oral Traditions passed down through Indigenous Knowledge Keepers, as this knowledge deserves the same respect afforded to scholarly sources from outside Indigenous communities.

Citing Indigenous knowledge

Written works

• When citing written works by Indigenous authors, or Indigenous knowledge used by non-Indigenous authors, the Indigenous Knowledges Attribution Toolkit provides helpful guidance, including a Citation Style Guide on page 12. Although the examples are in APA style, the same principles apply to the Chicago style. A key recommendation is to include the Indigenous person’s Nation, Country, or Language group in your citation, if that information is available. Resources should be cited according to the format for the type of source e.g. book, article.
• You can often find information about an author in the contributor section of a book, or in the author's online profile. Avoid assuming a person’s affiliation if not stated clearly.
• Before deciding how to cite sources of Indigenous knowledge, it is important to consider whether the sources are appropriate. The decision tree on page 7 of the Indigenous Knowledges Attribution Toolkit can help you evaluate your resources.

Personal communications

• Information shared directly by an Indigenous person is often cited as personal communication. In Chicago 18th, there are additional referencing guidelines when citing an Indigenous Elder or Knowledge Keeper. Refer to the format below for details.

In-text citation

Reference list

Tips

• Some Elders and Knowledge Keepers will prefer to be listed under their Traditional Name rather than their legal name, sometimes without listing a legal name also.
• Confirm all details with the Elder or Knowledge Keeper, as well as whether the information used is suitable for publication or requires additional protocols or permissions to publish.