Brenda Khan
Native American diets have changed significantly over the centuries, from their traditional food procurement practices to the introduction of new plants and animals by European settlers, and now, a return to ancestral foods. Native Americans' diets were once based on locally sourced foods, including wild game, fish, plants, and domesticated crops. However, with the arrival of European settlers, Native Americans were displaced from their lands, and their food systems were disrupted. This led to a shift towards government-issued foodstuffs, which were often unhealthy and contributed to health issues such as obesity and diabetes. In recent years, there has been a movement among Native Americans to return to their traditional diets, which are believed to offer health benefits and a deeper connection to their cultural heritage.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Diet before European Colonization | Consisted of wild foods, domesticated crops, fresh game, and fiber-packed legumes and fruits. |
| Diet after European Colonization | Unhealthy, government-issued, and substantially different from traditional diets. |
| Impact of Diet Change | Obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. |
| Current Initiatives | Encouraging Native Americans to return to traditional diets, promoting healthier cooking methods, and improving access to healthy foods. |
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What You'll Learn
Introduction of new animals and plants by European settlers
The arrival of European settlers in the Americas marked a drastic change in the way of life for Native Americans, including their diets. The Columbian Exchange, named after Christopher Columbus, refers to the widespread transfer of plants, animals, humans, cultures, germs, and ideas between the Americas and Afro-Eurasia. This exchange, which began in 1492, significantly altered the diets of Native Americans as they were introduced to new animals and plants.
In the 15th century, European settlers brought sheep, goats, cattle, pigs, and horses to the Americas. The introduction of these animals had a profound impact on the Native American diet in various ways. For example, the Spanish introduction of sheep led to competition with the Mapuche's traditional livestock, llamas, eventually leading to a decline in the latter. Similarly, the introduction of pigs by the Spanish in the Chiloe Archipelago proved successful as they thrived on the abundant shellfish and algae. The horse also played a significant role in hunting, allowing Native groups to hunt buffalo more efficiently, which eventually led to over-hunting and the near extinction of buffalo by the 19th century.
European settlers also introduced new plant species to the Americas, including wheat, rye, oats, peaches, apricots, plums, cherries, melons, watermelon, apples, grapes, and hybrid red oats. While some Native Americans adopted these new crops, others, particularly those in the lowland regions, remained loyal to their traditional staple, corn. The adoption of these new plants varied depending on the region and climate, with wheat, rye, and oats finding more success in the dry, temperate climates of Mexico, Central America, and Peru.
The Columbian Exchange resulted in a biological and ideological mixing on a global scale, forever shaping the cultures involved. The introduction of new animals and plants by European settlers forced Native Americans to adapt their traditional food procurement practices, leading to a shift in their diets and a disruption of their food customs. Today, many Native Americans are working to reclaim their traditional diets and culinary techniques, recognizing the health benefits associated with their ancestral foods.
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Displacement of Native Americans from their land
The displacement of Native Americans from their land has a long and complex history, dating back centuries. The arrival of European settlers brought significant changes to the lives and diets of Native Americans. As European settlers spread across America, they displaced Native American tribes, upending their food customs and traditional lifestyles. This disruption led to a shift in the Native American diet, as they adapted to the availability of new plants and animals brought by the settlers.
One of the earliest instances of Native American land displacement was the establishment of the first Native American reservation in 1786. While this policy initially treated each tribe as an independent nation, it set a precedent for the encroachment of Native American lands by the expanding United States. The Northwest Indian War in 1795 resulted in the displacement of tribes like the Lenape, Kickapoo, and Shawnee from their lands in Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio.
The Indian Removal Act of 1830, signed into law by President Andrew Jackson, authorized the forced displacement of Native American tribes from their ancestral homelands in the eastern United States. This act led to the infamous ""Trail of Tears," where thousands of Cherokees died while being forcibly relocated to the Indian Territory west of the Mississippi River. Other tribes, such as the Muscogee (Creek), Seminole, Chickasaw, and Choctaw, also suffered similar fates, with thousands perishing during their forced removal.
The creation of reservations and the enforcement of the Indian Removal Act were not the end of Native American land displacement. Over time, tribes were systematically forced into less valuable areas, excluding them from key sectors of the U.S. economy, particularly the energy market. Present-day tribal lands are more vulnerable to the negative impacts of climate change, facing extreme heat and decreased precipitation. Additionally, these lands have fewer oil and gas resources, limiting tribal opportunities in the fossil fuel-based energy economy.
The displacement of Native Americans from their land has had long-lasting consequences, including significant changes to their diet and health. The shift from traditional diets of hunting, fishing, gathering, and farming to government-supplied commodity foods has contributed to the epidemic of obesity and diabetes among Native American populations. Recognizing these health issues, various agencies, universities, community partners, and leaders have encouraged Native Americans to return to their traditional ancestral diets.
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Government-issued commodity foods
The arrival of European settlers in America disrupted Native American food customs and led to food insecurities within Native communities. As a result, many Native Americans became dependent on government-issued commodity foods.
Commodity Foods as Part of Treaties
Native Americans were displaced from their land and food sources as European settlers spread throughout America. In exchange for their land, the US government promised to provide Native Americans with food, housing, and education. Paul McHorse (Taos Pueblo), owner and senior planner of First Nations Eagle, states that "contractually, it's something that we must continue to have access to. And it is something that our ancestors advocated for so that we would have sustenance to survive because our old meat sources were no longer available to us."
The Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR)
The Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) was introduced in 1977 by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to address food insecurities for Native Americans on reservations. The program currently serves an average of 82,600 participants monthly and provides USDA foods to income-eligible households living on Indian reservations and Native American households in designated areas near reservations or in Oklahoma.
Commodity Foods and Their Impact on Native American Diets
Criticisms of Commodity Foods
Despite the incorporation of commodity foods into Native American cuisine, there are concerns about their negative impact on health. The rich and highly processed nature of these foods has been linked to the epidemic of obesity and diabetes among Native Americans. Artists like Daniel McCoy, Jr. and John Hitchcock have highlighted the destructive nature of these foods on Indigenous communities through their work, commenting on the addictive nature of processed foods and the poor quality of commodity foods. Additionally, there are efforts by various agencies, universities, community partners, and leaders to encourage Native Americans to return to the traditional diets of their ancestors, which were diverse and nutritious.
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Return to traditional Native diets
The arrival of European settlers in America disrupted Native food customs and forced Native Americans to change their traditional lifestyles. This has had a devastating impact on the health of Native Americans, with nearly half of Native Americans suffering from obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure, or type 2 diabetes.
In recent decades, various agencies, universities, community partners, and community leaders have urged Native Americans to return to the traditional diets of their ancestors. This movement combines contemporary elements with ancestral foods of the past, helping to restore and disseminate pre-colonial food and the Indigenous knowledge that accompanies it.
One example of this is the White Earth Land Recovery Project, which aims to preserve traditional American Indian foods and cooking methods while also working to restore traditional practices of sound land stewardship, language fluency, and community development. Another initiative is the Native Seeds/SEARCH organization, which is working to preserve native plants from the Southwest and Northwestern Mexico.
Additionally, some Native Americans are taking matters into their own hands by refusing government-issued commodity foods and returning to hunting and fishing. This is the only way, according to Dr. Michael and Mary Dan Eades, that Native Americans can reclaim their health.
By returning to their roots, Native Americans are not only preserving their cultural heritage but also improving their health and well-being.
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Health benefits of traditional Native diets
The traditional Native American diet was based on locally sourced food, including wild game and fish, wild plants, and domesticated crops. This diet was disrupted by the arrival of European settlers, who brought with them new plants and animals, as well as drastic changes to the land, such as damming waterways and clearing forests, which made it harder for Native Americans to continue their traditional hunting, fishing, and gathering practices.
Today, many Native Americans are returning to the traditional diets of their ancestors to combat the epidemic of obesity and diabetes that has affected their communities. Traditional Native diets are typically lower in calories, saturated fat, salt, and sugar, and higher in lean meats, fish, iron, zinc, vitamin A, and calcium. Studies have shown that a traditional Native diet can normalize blood sugar, suppress between-meal hunger, and foster weight loss. Traditional plant-based foods of Native Americans are also rich in natural antioxidants, which can protect against chronic diseases and obesity-induced oxidative damage.
In addition to the health benefits, eating in a traditional way can also provide social connections and strengthen cultural ties. Preparing and sharing food together is an important part of Native culture and helps to maintain spiritual connectedness.
By combining contemporary elements with ancestral foods, new Native American cuisine is helping to restore and disseminate pre-colonial food and the Indigenous knowledge associated with it.
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Frequently asked questions
Native Americans' diets changed drastically after the arrival of European settlers. Their traditional diets of hunting, fishing, gathering, and farming were replaced by government-issued rations of unhealthy, processed food.
Traditional Native American diets were based on locally sourced foods, including wild game and fish, wild plants, and domesticated crops. Corn, beans, and squash, known as the "Three Sisters", were key pillars of their diet.
The shift to processed, high-fat, and high-sugar foods has led to an epidemic of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease among Native Americans. Studies have shown that returning to traditional diets can improve health and normalise blood sugar.
Various agencies, universities, community partners, and leaders are encouraging Native Americans to return to their traditional diets. Projects such as THRIVE aim to improve access to healthy foods in rural stores and make food signage more culturally appropriate.
Native Americans are increasingly taking control of their cuisine, combining contemporary elements with traditional ancestral foods. Initiatives such as the White Earth Land Recovery Project and Native Seeds/SEARCH are working to preserve traditional Native American foods, cooking methods, and land stewardship practices.
