Finding quality Indigenous sources
Searching for Indigenous content
We now have an expanding and rich collection of Indigenous resources and content being produced and shared across various platforms. As researchers, it is our responsibility to actively seek out and engage with high-quality Indigenous research, ensuring that Indigenous voices and perspectives are properly highlighted and amplified. Indigenous voices should be at the forefront of Indigenous research.
If you are not familiar with using search techniques or need to refresh your skills, our Library guides are a great starting point. Here are some that are particularly relevant to searching and finding sources that will set you up on the right track:
Please get in touch with us at Te Iho o Te Manawataki, the Library, by emailing us at library@waikato.ac.nz if you need further help with finding sources.
Locating resources with Te Iho o Te Manawataki
Keywords
Over time, the language and terminology used to describe Māori and Indigenous Peoples has changed. When searching for Māori and Indigenous resources and materials, researchers may have to use language that is now considered outdated or even offensive.
The following table includes some of the keywords researchers may use when searching for Māori and Indigenous content.
| Māori | maori, "tangata whenua", native, indigenous |
| New Zealand | zealand, te ika-a-maui, te waka-a-maui, te wai pounamu |
| Tribe | iwi, hapu, (specific name/s of tribal groups i.e. Ngāpuhi, Waikato, Ngāti Māniapoto) |
| Indigenous | indigenous, native, "first nations", aborigin*, indian |
When beginning to research a certain topic, it is important to be open and flexible, often thinking outside of the box. To get a full scope of your topic you need to consider the many different ways other researchers may discuss it. Today, we can even utilise the help of AI tools to help expand our scope. Please watch the following video for a guided demonstration on expanding keywords and finding resources both in Library Seach and Google Scholar.