Skip to Main Content

Extra Tips for Indigenous Research & Researchers: Indigenous writing style

Indigenous voice

 

Today, with more and more quality Indigenous scholarship being produced, it is so important for researchers to use and cite Indigenous works and content. It is time to flood the academic landscape with Indigenous voice and perspectives, no longer in the margins. It is time to acknowledge our Indigenous knowledge holders in all their forms and to normalise an Indigenous way of viewing the world. Although it may not seem like much, every little bit matters. As stated by Alice Te Punga Somerville (Te Āti Awa, Taranaki) (2022): "To write is to cite" (para. 1); and "(Re)citation is ... an opportunity to gesture towards- to produce - a broader (net)work of thinkers and writers" (para. 21). 

We must think critically about who's thoughts and perceptions we choose to highlight and why- What is their positionality? What authority do they have on the matter? There may still be instances where problematic sources will need to be used, but before using any source it is important to critically evaluate its content. This is where source evaluation tools such as The Rauru Whakarere Evaluation Framework, SIFT, CRAAP and the likes are useful. By carefully assessing, selecting and citing our sources, we can begin to unravel the damages of research as a tool of colonisation and work to re-centre, re-write and re-right Indigenous knowledge systems and perspectives.

 

Te Punga Somerville, A. (Te Āti Awa, Taranaki). (2022, Aug 28). Writing while colonised. E-Tangata. https://e-tangata.co.nz/reflections/writing-while-colonised

 

Writing style guidelines

Whether you are an Indigenous researcher or someone who is involved in Indigenous research or content, positionality and transparency are key. It is important for readers and researchers to be able to identify an author's positionality to best determine the cultural lens, perspectives and authority on the information shared. 

Current and correct terminology should always be used. As a researcher, it is your responsibility to find out how an Indigenous person/individual/group prefers to be identified and addressed in your research. Some citations may include outdated and inappropriate terms and it is again up to you, and dependent on the purpose whether you (re)cite them as is or choose to paraphrase such text.

 

Here are some examples from the APA Style guide:

Spelling and capitalization of racial and ethnic terms

Racial and ethnic groups are designated by proper nouns and are capitalized. Therefore, use “Black” and “White” instead of “black” and “white” (do not use colors to refer to other human groups; doing so is considered pejorative). Likewise, capitalize terms such as “Native American,” “Hispanic,” and so on. Capitalize “Indigenous” and “Aboriginal” whenever they are used. Capitalize “Indigenous People” or “Aboriginal People” when referring to a specific group (e.g., the Indigenous Peoples of Canada), but use lowercase for “people” when describing persons who are Indigenous or Aboriginal (e.g., “the authors were all Indigenous people but belonged to different nations”).

Do not use hyphens in multiword names, even if the names act as unit modifiers (e.g., write “Asian American participants,” not “Asian-American participants”). If people belong to multiple racial or ethnic groups, the names of the specific groups are capitalized, but the terms “multiracial,” “biracial,” “multi-ethnic,” and so on are lowercase.

Indigenous Peoples around the world

When writing about Indigenous Peoples, use the names that they call themselves. In general, refer to an Indigenous group as a “people” or “nation” rather than as a “tribe.”

  • In North America, the collective terms “Native American” and “Native North American” are acceptable (and may be preferred to “American Indian”). “Indian” usually refers to people from India. Specify the nation or people if possible (e.g., Cherokee, Navajo, Sioux).
  • Hawaiian Natives may identify as “Native American,” “Hawaiian Native,” “Indigenous Peoples of the Hawaiian Islands,” and/or “Pacific Islander.”
  • In Canada, refer to the Indigenous Peoples collectively as “Indigenous Peoples” or “Aboriginal Peoples” (International Journal of Indigenous Health, n.d.); specify the nation or people if possible (e.g., People of the First Nations of Canada, People of the First Nations, or First Nations People; Métis; Inuit).
  • In Alaska, the Indigenous People may identify as “Alaska Natives.” The Indigenous Peoples in Alaska, Canada, Siberia, and Greenland may identify as a specific nation (e.g., Inuit, Iñupiat). Avoid the term “Eskimo” because it may be considered pejorative.
  • In Latin America and the Caribbean, refer to the Indigenous Peoples collectively as “Indigenous Peoples” and by name if possible (e.g., Quechua, Aymara, Taíno, Nahuatl).
  • In Australia, the Indigenous Peoples may identify as “Aboriginal People” or “Aboriginal Australians” and “Torres Strait Islander People” or “Torres Strait Island Australians.” Refer to specific groups when people use these terms to refer to themselves (e.g., Anangu Pitjantjatjara, Arrernte).
  • In New Zealand, the Indigenous People may identify as “Māori” or the “Māori people” (the proper spelling includes the diacritical macron over the “a”).

Te reo Māori

Ko te reo Māori te reo taketake o te whenua nei. Te reo Māori is Aotearoa New Zealand's Indigenous language with official language recognition from 1987. In acknowledging the significance and importance of such a taonga, the University of Waikato allows assessment submission in te reo Māori for any student that wishes to do so, regardless of the division they are enrolled with. This of course requires further thought and planning, where approval must be sought well in advance of assessment submission to ensure the appropriate staff can be notified.

Please read the following information if this is an avenue you would like to pursue at any time of your studies here at Waikato. Kia kaha te reo Māori!

Ngā tohutō: To macron or not to macron?

It is a generally accepted practice that tohutō are used when writing in te reo Māori. There are, however, certain instances where this doesn't apply.

  • If you are using a direct quote in your writing ("...."), you are required to copy the text of the original source.
  • If you are Waikato or of Tainui waka, you may be more comfortable in writing with double vowels (Maaori).

The most important thing to remember with all academic writing is that consistency is key. Once you make the decision to write with or without tohutō, or to write in a specific dialect, it is best practice to keep it the same the whole way through. The only exception being with direct quotations.