Elder & Knowledge Keeper citation: APA

Rachel Chong

The American Phycological Association (APA) recommends following the guidelines developed by Lorisia MacLeod (James Smith Cree Nation) (APA, 2022). You will find both an APA general example and a Kwantlen Polytechnic University example for use with Elder in Residence Lekeyten below.

APA general template:

References

“Last name, First initial., Nation/Community. Treaty Territory if applicable. Where they live if applicable. Topic/subject of communication if applicable. personal communication. Month Date, Year.

…

Cardinal, D., Goodfish Lake Cree Nation. Treaty 6. Lives in Edmonton. Oral teaching. personal communication. April 4, 2004.”

(MacLeod, 2025, para. 6)

Intext

(Name, date)
(Cardinal, 2004)

 

If an Elder or Knowledge Keeper has a traditional name they wish to use, simply replace the “Last name, First names” with their traditional name. If there are any other discrepancies between the citation style and the Elder or Knowledge Keepers wishes, always follow the Elder or Knowledge Keepers’ wishes.

Below is an example of modification for the APA general template as requested by Elder Lekeyten at Kwantlen Polytechnic University. Note that Treaty was not included, as lands are unceded. That said, a Territorial Acknowledgement as added. Lekeyten also noted that with such small Treaty areas in British Columbia, some people may not wish to be identified by Treaty (Lekeyten, 2019).

Kwantlen Polytechnic University: Modification example

References

Last name, First names initials. (Elder/Knowledge Keeper), Nation/Community. Topic/Subject of communication if applicable. personal communication. Year, Month Date. Territorial Acknowledgement of where information was shared.
Lekeyten (Elder). Kwantlen First Nation. Community justice. personal communication. 2019, April 19. Shared on the traditional unceded territory of the Kwantlen, Musqueam, Katzie, Semiahmoo, Tsawwassen, Qayqayt, and Kwikwetlem Peoples.

Intext

(Name, date)
(Lekeyten, 2019)

 

License

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Indigenous Information Literacy - 2nd Edition Copyright © 2026 by Rachel Chong is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

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