Indigenous Citation Guide

Included here are a selection of Indigenous Style Principles found in Gregory Younging's book Elements of Indigenous Style.

• Indigenous Literatures are their own thing and not a subgroup of Canadian Literature
• Indigenous Literatures frame the experiences of Indigenous histories, colonization, and contemporary realities
• The audience is FOR Indigenous readers and provide non-Indigenous readers with context for these realities
• Indigenous Literatures extend Sacred Stories and Oral Traditions that have existed long before Canada and Canadian Literature

Indigenous Peoples view themselves according to the following principles:

• They are diverse, distinct cultures
• They exist as part of an ongoing continuum through generations tracing back to their ancient ancestors
• They have not been assimilated into mainstream Canadian society, and their national and cultural paradigms have not been fundamentally altered or undermined through colonization
• They are currently in a process of cultural reclamation and rejuvenation, marked by significant participation from Indigenous youth
• Natural cultural change and adaptation do not mean that Indigenous Peoples have acquiesced to mainstream Canadian society, nor that Indigenous cultures have been fundamentally altered or undermined

Indigenous style involves publishing practices that recognize and respect Indigenous cultural property

Work in collaboration with Indigenous Peoples to ensure that Indigenous material is expressed with the highest possible level of cultural authenticity, and in a manner that follows Indigenous Protocols and maintains Indigenous cultural integrity.

Indigenous style recognizes the significance of Elders in the cultural integrity of Indigenous Peoples and as authentic sources of Indigenous cultural information.

Indigenous style recognizes Traditional Knowledge and Oral Traditions as Indigenous cultural property, owned by Indigenous Peoples and over which Indigenous Peoples exert control. This recognition has bearing on permission and copyright, and applies even when non-Indigenous laws do not require it.