DCHP-3

Canadian half-breed

DCHP-3.1 (Dec 2025)

Spelling variants:
“Canadian half-breed”, Canadian half breed, Canadian halfbreed, Canadian Halfbreed

This term is offensive and is included because it documents historical use of this term. This is not an endorsement of its use.
n. — obsolete, offensive, derogatory

a person of mixed Indigenous and European, especially French, parentage.

Type: 6. Memorial — This term is a Canadianism by virtue of its historical significance in Canada. As shown in Chart 1, the term is most commonly used in Canada; however, there is some notable usage in the UK, Australia and the US.

As of 2026, it appears that the term is no longer in use (see the 2013 quotation for one of the latest attestations).

The term is not listed in OED-3 or American dictionary DARE. It is not listed in Canadian dictionaries COD-1, COD-2, Gage-3, Gage-5, FWSCD-82 or FWCCD-86.

Quotations

1845
[The old chief, just referred to, happened, at this time, to pass near me, when I extended my hand to him, and accosted him in the ordinary manner, "How do you do?" He readily accepted my hand, and replied in the Indian language. There was a very small eccentric looking man, with the chief, whom I supposed to be a Canadian halfbreed.]
1861
In the spring of the year, when the Europeans are busy, late and early, getting their seed into the ground, the Canadian Halfbreed is often stuck up in the end of his canoe fishing gold-eyes […].
1884
Louis Riel, the Canadian half-breed who created so much trouble twelve years ago, and gave Sir Garnet Wolseley the first opportunity of winning his spurs, is once more creating disturbances in the West.
1896
The grandfather of a Canadian half-breed Indian peddler here, named Macomber, died a few days ago, aged 103 years, at his reservation in Canada, leaving considerable property.
1901
Two Canadian Half-Breeds Arrested in Montana.
1916
He was a French-Canadian half-breed he declared and was proud of it. His mother tongue was French. He was a Canadian.
1928
The story of how a Canadian half-breed, Jean Louis Legare, known by all the Indian tribes of the west as the man who never broke his word, persuaded the famous Sloux chief, Sitting Bull, to go back to the united States after his flight to Canada following the Custer battle of 1876 is one of the famous tales of the days of buffalo hunt, Indian war and fur trade.
1938
Frank Mauresette was a French Canadian half breed and his wife was an Indian
1955
Although Canadian half-breed Louis Riel was convicted of treason by a Regina Jury and hanged Nov. 16 1885, for his part in the Northwest Rebellion, one of the five jurors who served at Riel's trial maintained the St. Boniface-born metis was not guilty.
1985
The Brotherhood, by Robert E. Wall (Seal, $4.95) is the seventh volume in The Canadian series of historical fiction that follows the Nowell-Miller clan. Sex, history and period locations are the prominent features of this series. In this instalment, we have the story of young Kevin O'Connor, Irish refugee, and Craig Miller, a Canadian half-breed, and their strange alliance.
2002
The Canmore mountain man, who describes himself as a "proud Canadian half-breed," said it is his native heritage that predisposes him to an adventurous life.
2013
In the early 1850s, a guide known as Tucker told his Sport, S.H. Hammon a story about beating a “Canadian half-breed” who lived on the northwest shore of Chateaugay Lake and forcing him and his wife to leave the area.

References

  • OED-3
  • COD-1
  • COD-2
  • Gage-3
  • Gage-5
  • FWSCD-82
  • FWCCD-86
  • DARE

Images

Chart 1: Internet Domain Search, 19 December 2025

Chart 1: Internet Domain Search, 19 December 2025