Research Guides: ABST 1104: Canadian Aboriginal Policy (Miranda-Barrios): Primary vs Secondary Sources

Primary Sources: Overview

Primary sources are the original materials or evidence to be analyzed, evaluated, contextualized, or synthesized in the research process.

In the Social Science and Humanities, primary sources are usually from the time period under study and offer first-hand accounts or direct evidence responsive to the research question.

Here are some examples of the types of primary sources that you might consult in Aboriginal Studies:

Statutes, laws, or regulations
Legal decisions, or case law
Eyewitness accounts or testimony
Historical newspapers
Speeches
Interviews

Primary Source: The Indian Act

Here are some foundational primary sources for ABST 1104:

Indian Act
The Indian Act is the primary law the federal government uses to administer Indian status, local First Nations governments, and the management of reserve land. It also outlines governmental obligations to First Nations peoples.
UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
UNDRIP is a human rights instrument that sets out the collective and individual rights of Indigenous peoples around the world. It is not legally-binding, but provides authoritative ideas to influence state laws and practices.
Royal Proclamation of 1763 (excerpt)
The Royal Proclamation is a foundational document in the relationship between First Nations people and the Crown and laid the basis for Canada's territorial evolution.
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An excerpt from the Royal Proclamation is provided on the Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada website.

Secondary Sources: Overview

Secondary sources analyze, evaluate, contextualize, or synthesize evidence. They often give second-hand accounts based on engagement with primary sources.

In the Social Sciences and Humanities, secondary sources comment on or analyze texts, oral communications, artifacts, or archives of primary sources.

Here are some examples of the types of secondary sources you might use in ABST:

Scholarly journal articles
Scholarly books or monographs
A non-eyewitness record of an event written by someone without a close connection to the event

Adapted from: Primary or secondary sources, University of Victoria.