There are, unfortunately, many words that do not appear in dictionaries.
They nonetheless do exist in common parlance.
The terms "half-breed" and "breed" are used in many Indian communities.
So does the terms"fullblood."
In several tribes there are Native language terms for these categories.
This is particularly true when the individual is born without a clan, e.g.
the clan is descended from the side that had the non-tribal parent. In
some tribes clans were created for those who were of mixed parentage. In
other situations, the individual remained clanless. That is very unfortunate
when it happens.
There are more reasons than breeding for identity within tribes. In
this contemporary world there is probably less of an issue in terms of
parentage, but just two or three generations ago, one's identity arose
from the lineage and affiliations of both of our parents.
My clan comes from my mother, but I also have extensive blood lineage
from my father (whose clan I do not share status in because descendancy
comes from the matrilineal side).
In other cases, tribal enrollment can only be claimed if the father
is a tribal member or alternatively, if the mother is a tribal member.
Had my father married someone from another tribe, I would not be an enrolled
tribal member of the Seneca Nation.
So the word "halfbreed" may not appear in Webster's, but the consequences
of mixed parentage had and continues to have real repercussions for individuals
in many tribes.
Best wishes,
Laura Waterman Wittstock
Minneapolis, MN
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