The Pemmican Phenomenon: North America's Oldest Survival Food

🥩Pemmican is a dried meat dish made from various meats, commonly buffalo, and mixed with fat, berries, or other dried ingredients.

🌍Pemmican was a staple survival food for indigenous peoples, fur traders, and early explorers, known for its long shelf life and high nutritional value.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦The Métis people, with a unique mixed heritage of Native American and European ancestry, played a significant role in the production and trade of pemmican in Canada.

💥The Pemmican Proclamation sparked a conflict between the Hudson's Bay Company and the North West Company, leading to the Pemmican War in 1816.

🥡Pemmican continues to be appreciated as a historical delicacy and a reminder of the ingenuity and resourcefulness of early settlers and explorers.

What is pemmican made of?

—Pemmican is made from dried meat, typically buffalo, mixed with fat. Other ingredients such as berries, sugar, or salt can be added for flavor.

How long does pemmican last?

—Pemmican has a remarkably long shelf life, lasting for months or even years when stored properly. Its high fat content and dehydration process contribute to its longevity.

Did the Métis people invent pemmican?

—While pemmican has been made and consumed by many Native American tribes, the Métis people, with their mixed heritage, played a significant role in its production and trade.

What caused the Pemmican War?

—The Pemmican War was a conflict between the Hudson's Bay Company and the North West Company, triggered by the Pemmican Proclamation, which limited the amount of pemmican the Métis people could hunt.

What is the significance of pemmican today?

—Pemmican holds cultural and historical significance as a traditional survival food and a symbol of early settlers' resilience. It is still enjoyed today as a unique historical delicacy.

00:00Introduction to pemmican, a traditional dried meat dish with origins in North America.

03:08Exploring the history of pemmican and its role as a survival food for indigenous peoples and early explorers.

11:20The unique culture of the Métis people and their connection to pemmican production and trade.

16:48The Pemmican Proclamation and the ensuing conflict known as the Pemmican War.

18:24Tasting pemmican and discussing its significance as a historical delicacy.