Learn how to cite sources correctly and download ready-to-use citation templates to build clear, verifiable documentation for your Métis family research.

Why Citations Matter

Citing your sources accurately:

• Shows where you found each piece of information
• Allows others (and your future self) to verify your work
• Builds credibility for your research

• Is required for Métis citizenship and registry applications
• Helps track evidence and contradictions clearly

Essential Point: In Métis research, where "dit" names, name variations, and oral histories intersect with records scattered across missions, fur trade archives, and scrip files, clear citations are essential for documenting your ancestors responsibly.

What to Include in a Citation

For each record, aim to capture:

• Who the record is about (names, roles, relationships)
• What the record is (baptism, scrip affidavit, census entry)
• When it was created (date of event and date recorded, if different)

• Where it was created (parish, settlement, region, archive)
• Source Details (archive name, microfilm or file number, website link, page number)

Citation Styles for Métis Research

Genealogical Standard Format

Follows guidelines from Evidence Explained (Elizabeth Shown Mills), widely accepted in genealogical publications and courts.

Example:
St. Laurent Parish Register, Baptisms, 1868, entry for Pierre Beaulieu, Library and Archives Canada microfilm H-1357.

Modified Chicago Style

Suitable for reports and family books, maintaining clarity and consistency.

Example:
St. Laurent Parish Register, Baptisms, 1868, Pierre Beaulieu, LAC microfilm H-1357.

Types of Sources You Will Cite

• Parish registers (baptisms, marriages, burials)
• Census records (federal, provincial, regional)
• Scrip applications and affidavits
• Fur trade employment records (HBC, NWC)
• Oral histories (name of interviewee, interviewer, date, location)

• Land records and maps
• Military and resistance records
• Probate and will documents
• DNA testing reports (summarized with test type and kit numbers privately tracked)

Citation Examples by Source Type

Parish Records

Baptism Record:
St. François Xavier Parish Register, Baptisms, 15 March 1870, entry for Marie Beaulieu, daughter of Jean Baptiste Beaulieu and Josephine Cardinal, Library and Archives Canada, microfilm H-1357, frame 23.

Marriage Record:
St. Laurent Parish Register, Marriages, 22 June 1885, marriage of Pierre Dumont and Catherine L'Hirondelle, LAC microfilm H-1359, frame 45.

Scrip Records

Scrip Application:
Manitoba Métis Scrip, Application 2847, Joseph Cardinal, 1885, LAC RG 15, Series D-II-8-a, Volume 1311, File 2847.

Scrip Affidavit:
Affidavit of Pierre Beaulieu dit Sinclair, regarding birth of Marie Beaulieu, 12 October 1885, Manitoba Métis Scrip files, LAC RG 15, Volume 1313, File 3024.

Census Records

Federal Census:
Canada Census 1881, Manitoba, Marquette County, St. Laurent Parish, household of Jean Baptiste Cardinal, age 45, LAC microfilm C-13281, enumeration district 186, page 12, line 15.

Oral History

Interview Citation:
Marie Sinclair (granddaughter of Pierre Beaulieu dit Sinclair), interview by [Your Name], 15 August 2024, Winnipeg, Manitoba. Notes in possession of [Your Name].

Downloadable Citation Templates

Citation Log Template (Excel)

Track citations systematically as you research

Download Excel

Citation Templates (Word)

Pre-formatted examples for copying into your research

Download Word

Research Documentation Sheet

Pair with your Research Log to keep organized

Word PDF

Tips for Consistent Citation Practice

• Cite every record you use, even if it feels repetitive.
• Record conflicting information and note why you chose one source over another.
• Use consistent abbreviations and terminology (cross-reference your glossary).

• Document oral history with date, place, and context of the conversation.
• Link citations to family group sheets and timelines to build a coherent research narrative.

Common Citation Mistakes to Avoid

• Citing only "FamilySearch" without the original source details
• Missing page numbers or frame numbers for microfilm
• Not distinguishing between event date and recording date

• Forgetting to cite oral histories with full context
• Using inconsistent abbreviations across your research

Next Steps

Return to Name Variations Guide

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