Unlike other personal communications, Indigenous Elders and Knowledge Keepers should be cited in the notes and in the bibliography.
The formal Chicago Style does not have a format for Indigenous Elders and Knowledge Keepers, so these guidelines have been adapted from NorQuest College (CC BY-NC 4.0) and developed in consultation with Lorisia MacLeod (James Smith Cree Nation, MLIS).
General Format
Full Note
1. First Names Last Name, Nation/Community, Treaty territory if applicable, City/Community they live in if applicable, Topic/subject of communication if applicable, Personal communication, Month Date, Year.
Bibliography
Last Name, First Names, Nation/Community, Treaty territory if applicable, City/Community they live in if applicable. Topic/subject of communication if applicable. Personal communication. Month Date, Year.
Example
Full Note
1. Delores Cardinal, Goodfish Lake Cree Nation, Treaty 6, lives in Edmonton, Oral teaching, Personal communication, April 4, 2004.
Bibliography
Cardinal, Delores, Goodfish Lake Cree Nation, Treaty 6, lives in Edmonton. Oral teaching. Personal communication. April 4, 2004.
Note
If you would like to approach an Elder or Knowledge Keeper for teachings, remember to follow protocol. If you are unsure what their protocol is, please ask them ahead of time.
