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If you need help, please contact Jenna Walsh, Indigenous Initiatives Librarian & Librarian for Indigenous Studies, Archaeology, Environmental Science, and Resource & Environmental Management at or jmwalsh@sfu.ca or Ask a librarian
Background sources
Background sources such as dictionaries and encyclopedias are a great place to start when you are developing and exploring a paper topic. Try the following sources to find biographies and information about Indigenous issues and topics.
Biographies
- Canadian Encyclopedia - Aboriginal Peoples
- KnowBC: Encyclopedia of British Columbia
- American Indian Biographies
- The New Warriors: Native American Leaders Since 1900 [print]
- Native American Women: A Biographical Dictionary
- Conversations with Remarkable Native Americans
- Encyclopedia of Native American Biography: 600 Life Stories of Important People from Powhatan to Wilma Mankiller [print]
- American Indian Leaders [online]
- Encyclopedia of the American Indian Movement [print]
Indigenous issue and topics
- See First Nations Research Resources: Background Information Libary Guide
Find books using the Library Catalogue
Once you have chosen the Indigenous leader you are writing about, check the Library Catalogue to see if there are any books or book chapters about them. Books are also useful resources to help you flesh out your topic.
For help using the Catalogue, use the Library Catalogue Search Guide
Suggested titles
- Native Leaders of Canada [print]
- First Peoples in Canada
- Hidden in Plain Sight: Contributions of Aboriginal Peoples to Canadian Identity and Culture [print]
- Legends of American Indian Resistance [print]
Suggested subject headings
- Indians of North America -- Canada -- Biography
- Indians of North America -- Biography
- Indigenous Peoples -- Canada -- Biography
Find journal articles using the journal article databases
Your assignment requires you to use at least three peer-reviewed sources and cite them in your paper. Use the What is a scholarly journal? Library guide to help determine if the source meets this requirement.
Journal article databases are the best way to find appropriate material. The How to find journal articles Library guide can help. You can also browse our databases for First Nations Studies.
Recommended journals
- Canadian Journal of Native Studies
- AlterNative: An International Journal of Indigenous Scholarship
- American Indian Quarterly
- American Indian Culture and Research Journal
- Wicazo Sa Review
Current events
Some topics are widely covered in newspaper articles. Although these articles are NOT peer-reviewed, they can still provide insight into the activities or events related to the person you choose. Check out our databases for News sources.