In 2022, members of the Indigenous Archives Collective responded to an expression of interest by CAVAL for a consultation partner to develop Indigenous Referencing Guidance for Indigenous Knowledges . The scope of work was to build on and produce referencing guidance to extend the work of the CAVAL Acknowledging Cultural authority and Indigenous Knowledges in referencing Working Group (CACIK) Project.
The Indigenous Referencing Guide for Indigenous Knowledges which is now available on the CAVAL website is intended to be a living set of principles and is focused on providing guidance to undergraduate students.
The Collective project team considered two critical areas of referencing practice: the need for appropriate sources to be identified and guidance on referencing Indigenous knowledges in citation practices. Considerations of ethical practice with Indigenous research and the politics of citation were central to the IAC project team generating the guide.
The conversations on recognition of Indigenous Knowledges, Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP) through a Critical Information Literacy lens generated important discussions on the engagement with and publishing of Indigenous Knowledges. The referencing guidance encourages students and librarians to consider past practices of exploitative research on Indigenous people and engage in dialogue about the politics and complex nature of information production contributing to systems of oppression.
The guidance provides context to understand the politics of knowledge production and pathways for librarians and students to dismantle approaches that deny the appropriate recognition of Indigenous Knowledges. The attribution of Indigenous Knowledge fosters respect and recognition of First Nations contributors.
The result of the collaboration is the production of an Indigenous Knowledge Attribution Toolkit (IKAT) that includes the following components:
- A decision tree to provide guidance for assessing content and attribution.
- A citation and referencing guide with examples that include Indigenous attribution.
Image: Why an Indigenous Knowledge Attribution Toolkit? (p.4)
CAVAL and the IAC project team are incredibly thankful to those people who provided feedback and consideration on the development of the resource, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members, the Yoowinna Wurnalung Aboriginal Healing Service, Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Advisory Committee at Museums Victoria, and other members of the Indigenous Archives Collective.
Ongoing advice and guidance from First Nations communities in Victoria is welcomed to CAVAL
If you would like to provide feedback on the Indigenous Knowledge Attribution Toolkit at any stage, please email members@caval.edu.au.
The wider Collective project team, Dr Shannon Faulkhead, Dr Kirsten Thorpe, Nathan Sentence, Lauren Booker and Dr Rose Barrowcliffe are thankful for the opportunity to collaborate with CAVAL on this important project.
Indigenous Referencing Guidance for Indigenous Knowledge Citation:
Indigenous Archives Collective; Faulkhead, S; Thorpe, K; Sentance, N; Booker, L; & R Barrowcliffe. (2023) Indigenous Referencing Guidance for Indigenous Knowledges. Indigenous Archives Collective and the UTS Jumbunna Institute of Indigenous Education and Research.