PDF 2 - Elements of Indigenous Style Flashcards
PRINCIPLE 1: THE PURPOSE OF
INDIGENOUS STYLE
The purpose of Indigenous style is to produce works that:
● reflect Indigenous realities as they are perceived by Indigenous Peoples
● are truthful and insightful in their Indigenous content
● are respectful of the cultural integrity of Indigenous Peoples
To bring attention and respect to Indigenous art
PRINCIPLE 3: INDIGENOUS LITERATURES AND CANLIT
- Indigenous Literatures are their own canon and not a subgroup of CanLit.
- Contemporary Indigenous Literatures connect to and extend Traditional Stories and Oral Traditions that have existed for centuries and millennia, and that long predate CanLit.
Indigenous literature IS NOT Canadian literature
PRINCIPLE 4: RECOGNIZING INDIGENOUS IDENTITY
Indigenous Peoples view themselves according to the following key principles:
● They are diverse, distinct cultures - different groups (e.g. Mi’kmaq, Haudenosaunee)
● They exist as part of an ongoing continuum through generations
● They have not been assimilated into mainstream Canadian society - it is not a melting pot
● They are currently in the process of cultural reclamation and rejuvenation, marked by significant participation from Indigenous youth - their youth are being taught about their culture
● National cultural change doesn’t mean that Indigenous Peoples have adapted to mainstream Canadian society, nor that Indigenous cultures have been fundamentally altered or undermined - because they’re using Western writing does not mean they’ve given up their identities
PRINCIPLE 11: INAPPROPRIATE TERMINOLOGY
When to use/not use
Works should avoid inappropriate terminology used in reference to Indigenous Peoples, except when:
● Specifically describing or discussing this terminology as terminology
● Referring to a proper name, or the name of an institution or document that contains the terminology - e.g. the Indian Act
● Quoting from a source that contains the
terminology (E.G. a historical source)
● If a work quotes from a historical source that uses inappropriate terminology, it is important to flag this content. This means discussing the terminology in a footnote or endnote, or, better yet, in a paragraph in run of text. - explaining why you’re using it
PRINCIPLE 12: THE NAMES OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES
Indigenous style uses the names for Indigenous Peoples that Indigenous Peoples use for themselves (and consults with them before doing so)
Except when:
● Specifically describing or discussing another term
● Referring to a proper name, or the name of an institution or document
● Quoting from a source (E.G., a historical source).
PRINCIPLE 13: TERMS THAT SHOULD BE CAPITALIZED
Terms for Indigenous identities; Indigenous governmental, social, spiritual, and religious institutions; and Indigenous collective rights should be capitalized.
E.g. Mowhawk, Anishanaabe, Indigenous
PRINCIPLE 18: INAPPROPRIATE POSSESSIVES
Indigenous Peoples are independent sovereign nations that predate Euro-colonial states and are not “owned” by
Euro-colonial states. Indigenous style therefore avoids the use of possessives that imply this such as “Canada’s Indigenous Peoples,” “our Indigenous Peoples, and “the Indigenous Peoples of Canada.”
You CAN say the Indigenous people of this land or the Indigenous people on this land
PRINCIPLE 19: REUSING CULTURAL MATERIAL IN ARCHIVES OR ALREADY IN PUBLICATION
Indigenous style recognizes that materials contained in archives, or already published in works about Indigenous Peoples, may have violated cultural Protocols. Authors, editors, and publishers need to establish permission to use these materials from the Indigenous People who own them as their cultural property.
PRINCIPLE 22: PAST TENSE
Avoid the past tense in writing about Indigenous Peoples, except when:
● Referring to an activity or event that specifically and exclusively took place in the past
● Referring to an indigenous cultural activity that is no longer practices (as this is rarely the case, seek confirmation with an authoritative member of the particular Indigenous People)
● Using a quotation that uses the past tense
Inappropriate
terminology
is…
- Any terms that dehumanise or devalue Indigenous Peoples or culture, such as: artifact, barbarian, band, clan, discovery, folklore, heathen, myth, prehistory, primitive, ritual, savage, tribe, uncivilized.
- Any terms not used by Indigenous Peoples to describe themselves or their cultural practices and symbols, especially ones that are derogatory, such as: brave, buck, Eskimo, Indian, Native, peace pipe, rain/war dance, redman/redskin, squaw, tomahawk, tom-tom.
People vs peoples vs person etc.
Respectfully Referring to Indigenous People…
● Indigenous is always an adjective.
● An Indigenous person is an individual who identifies as First Nations, Inuit, or Metis
● Indigenous people refers to people who identify as First Nations, Inuit, or Metis in a
context where their specific identity is not at issue
● Indigenous Peoples are the distinct societies of First Nations, Inuit, and Metis peoples in Canada
● An Indigenous People is a single one of the distinct societies of First Nations, Inuit, and Metis peoples in Canada.
● When writing about an Indigenous person, try to NOT refer to them as “Indigenous person” and INSTEAD identify them by their Indigenous Nation, as modelled above with Younging.
