| Holmes Colbert · Greenwood LeFlore · Quanah Parker Jim Thorpe |
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Native American Church |
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Indigenous peoples of the Americas, Native Americans in the United States |
Half-breed is an historic term used to describe anyone who is of mixed Native American (especially North American) and white European parentage. Métis is a more general French term for mixed race, which has generally referred to a person of descent from two different major ethnic groups, such as European and African, European and Native American, or European and Asian.
Prior to 1763, when Canada passed into British hands, most traders with the Indians in northern North America were French, thus half-breeds were usually half French. As fur-trading became the province of the Northwest Company of Montreal, and, later, the Hudson's Bay Company, half-breeds were more likely to have fathers of Scottish or Orkney origins. Trappers were often still French-Canadian or Métis, however, as they had long been in the business. Their sons, familiar with First Nations languages and cultures, found ready employment with the trading companies.
The Métis were so numerous as to create some communities of their own, such as the Red River settlement in Manitoba, and Prince Albert in Saskatchewan.[1]
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The term "half-breed" was considered an impolite and rude offensive slur by almost everyone.