A Native "Indian" (North American Aboriginal; First Nations; Indigenous; First Tribes; AmerIndian; American Indian; Canadian Indian; Native American; Native Canadian; Native North American; Mixed Blood; Half-Breed) person who is "red on the
outside, white on the inside."
Sometimes said in jest or
humor, but more often derogatory.
It means a First Nations ("red") person who is either full-blooded and "acts
white" (ie: wearing a suit and tie; working in an office; talks and acts and/or thinks "
White".)
It could be said about a mixed-blood person who is part Native and Part Black or
Asian or "other"
non-Native ancestry, but only if they presented themselves as being savvy or invested in or involved in the so-called "White" system.
Can also mean a "half-breed" of half Native/half White ancestry (mainly said by Native people, either jokingly or derisively, or a
bit of both.) It does NOT refer to a Métis person, as that is a culture unto itself (of half Native - often Cree - people and Whites - usually
French-Canadian or from the North West U.
S.)
Can also mean an "urban Indian" (a Native person who grew up off the Reserve mainly amongst
non-Natives.)
Can also refer to a Native person who grew up in the foster care system and does not know his/her roots; or (in this context, can even be a veiled compliment) a Native person who takes part in "Native life" (pow wows, visits to family on the Reserve, "Red Power"
politics, etc.) but has been educated in the "White" system and is as familiar with
non-Native ways of life and thinking as with Native ways.
Our Chief talks about bringing back our traditional fishing rights, but he's just an apple who wants to "bed down" with The White Man and make some fast
money.
She looks Japanese, but she's an apple - her Mom is Ojibway and her Dad is a White
guy.
Professor Red Cloud Dancing is
well-loved by his people (the Sioux) and those non-Natives at the University - he's a good apple.
Poor
Johnny Big Deer - he grew up in the White foster care system, and he doesn't even know any other Native people - he's an apple.
That apple Mr. Abbotossaway is our
boss in Accounting and Manager for The District, but he has family on the Reserve he sees regularly.