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'breed

< shorting of "half breed"

Systemic racism

DCHP-3.1 (Sep 2025)

n. — Extremely offensive

a person descended from ancestors of differing ethnic origins.

Type: 6. Memorial — This term is a residue of Canada's colonial past.

See: breed,half-breed

This term is no longer acceptable usage. Do not use.

Quotations

1928

Thanks again to that hypothetical Scotch progenitor -- one so remote, as it chanced, that this particular descendant still "took treaty" and was not rated as a 'breed -- he was far from being an ordinary Indian.

1936

The 'breed spoke again. ". . . you wise lak trap-line carcajou, an take differen' trails on way home . . . Skunk-Bear wen' after you wan tam an he didn' come back . . . So we tie you op an den hyak to camp. . . ."

1956

There are, in this area, besides the Indians and whites, a considerable percentage of people with both white and Indian blood, referred to as metis, half-breeds or 'breeds.