Métis Indians, Metis First Nation, Metis People (‘mixed,’ from French métis, a derivative of Latin mescere, ‘to mix’) A term used by the French speaking population of the northwest to designate persons of mixed white and Indian blood. Among the Spanish speaking population of the southwest the word mestizo, of the same derivation, is used, but is applied more especially to those of half white and half Indian blood. The term mustee, a corruption of mestizo, was formerly in use in the Gulf states. In the west the term “half-breed” is loosely applied to all persons of mixed white and Indian blood, without regard to the proportion of each. See Mixed-bloods.
