Not all people around the world distinguish between ethnicity and race. Sometimes they are used as synonyms or vary according to context. Phenotype is not as important. Racial mixing is common. Many shamans and leaders have phenotypes that are mestizo or European looking, this does not detract from their important roles in the community.
Race is also flexible and context specific.
The longer I did fieldwork with the Mapuche, in their view, the more I looked like them. However, the Mapuche do believe that their warring abilities and ability to resist are character traits that are passed down through descent. In this respect, their notions are similar to the anthropological notions of race as assumed to be biologically determined. While doing fieldwork anthropologists must understand and learn about local concepts and notions. The anthropological terms are used as frames of reference.