$19.95 - print
$11.99 - ebook
Published
Pages
168
Binding
Paperback
Dimensions
4.25x7in
ISBN Print
9781550597165
ISBN eBook
9781550597196
Browse Inside
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Elements of Indigenous Style

A Guide for Writing By and About Indigenous Peoples

Remembering Dr. Gregory Younging

Elements of Indigenous Style offers Indigenous writers and editors—and everyone creating works about Indigenous Peoples—the first published guide to common questions and issues of style and process. Everyone working in words or other media needs to read this important new reference, and to keep it nearby while they’re working.

This guide features:

  • Twenty-two succinct style principles.
  • Advice on culturally appropriate publishing practices, including how to collaborate with Indigenous Peoples, when and how to seek the advice of Elders, and how to respect Indigenous Oral Traditions and Traditional Knowledge.
  • Terminology to use and to avoid.
  • Advice on specific editing issues, such as biased language, capitalization, and quoting from historical sources and archives.
  • Case studies of projects that illustrate best practices.

Table of Contents

Introduction
1. Why an Indigenous style guide?
2. A history of the portrayal of Indigenous Peoples in literature
3. Contemporary Indigenous cultural realities
4. The cultural rights of Indigenous Peoples
5. Culturally appropriate publishing practices for Indigenous authors and content
6. Terminology
7. Specific editorial issues
Appendix A: Summary of Indigenous style principles
Appendix B: Draft principles of the Indigenous Editors Circle
Appendix C: Compilations of names of Indigenous Peoples
Appendix D: Gnaritas Nullius (No One’s Knowledge): the Essence of Traditional Knowledge and Its Colonization through Western Legal Regimes, by Gregory Younging

Style is fraught with politics, especially when writing about Indigenous Peoples. Now, writers, academics, journalists, publishers, and students can breathe a sigh of relief. Reach for this essential Indigenous style guide, not only when searching for the right word, but when seeking guidance on the importance of relationships and trust.

Duncan McCue, CBC Radio Host and author of The Shoe Boy

Elements of Indigenous Style is a beautiful beginning, a gathering place and a cultivator of both discussion and growth. Younging’s work clears the ground, drafts the blueprints and starts the framing out on the house that we need for our stories. At the same time, Younging manages to write both solid and grounded guidelines while leaving malleability in the architecture so that the ideas can grow and evolve. And we are all invited to share, discuss, add to, and cultivate this important work.

Cherie Dimaline, author and winner of the Governor General’s Literary Award

These [Indigenous style] principles are clear and useful for writers, editors and publishers, as well as enlightening for readers.

The Editors' Weekly, official blog of Canada's national editorial association

As a good style guide should, Elements of Indigenous Style provides answers for common and uncommon questions editors, publishers, and writer might have.

The Editing Company Blog

Tis guide respects and affirms the Indigenous Right to cultural expression, property, and distribution, and it aims to strengthen future publishing practices of writing by and about Indigenous Peoples.

The Capilano Review

[A] strong foundation for those beginning to learn about Indigenous writing as well as a valuable go-to resource for those working regularly in Indigenous topics.

Canadian Literature

Gregory Younging

Gregory Younging, Opaskwayak Cree Nation, was the publisher of Theytus Books, the first Indigenous-owned publishing house in Canada. Elements of Indigenous Style began as the house style Gregory developed at Theytus. Gregory also taught in the Indigenous Studies Program of the University of British Columbia, Okanagan, and he served as assistant director of research to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada.