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Chicago Citation Style 17th Edition

This guide will help you cite sources in Chicago Citation Style 17th Edition.

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Indigenous Elders and Knowledge Keepers

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.

Who is an Elder or Knowledge Keeper? (video)

WATCH 
This video will introduce you to citing Indigenous Elders and Knowledge Keepers. As you watch, consider what defines an Elder or Knowledge Keeper.

The formal Chicago Style does not have a format for Indigenous Elders and Knowledge Keepers. This video includes guidance developed by Indigenous librarians at NorQuest College, UBC's X̱wi7x̱wa Library, and Simon Fraser University. Please note it may not align exactly with the guidance adapted from NorQuest College above.

Indigenous Information Literacy - Chicago Elder Citation by Rachel Chong at KPU Library (2021).

Citing Treaties

Treaties may be cited as legal documents/legislation or as primary documents/archival materials.