Long before Europeans arrived, the Indigenous peoples had settled in all parts of North America. They knew what was edible and what could be successfully grown. When Europeans arrived, they were able to use the expertise of the Indigenous peoples to help them sustain themselves through the early years on the new continent. Much of the food that we think of as our regular North American diet actually originated with the Indigenous peoples! Pictured to the left is a fiddlehead growing wild. Fiddleheads are popular in eastern Canada and were eaten by the Indigenous peoples long before the arrival of the first Europeans. In this activity, you will learn about the traditional Indigenous diet and compare it to that of a North American diet.

The First Nations people inhabit all parts of Canada. They have been inhabiting the territory of modern Canada for thousands of years. They were historically hunters and fishers. The traditional diet of the Indigenous peoples was made up of the animals and plants found on the land and in the sea around them. Seal, whale, buffalo, caribou, walrus, polar bear, arctic hare (rabbit), all kinds of fish, and many species of bird were hunted or fished. Raw blubber (fat) was enjoyed or mixed with meat or berries. Every part of the animal was consumed or used to make clothing or shelter. Because the foods were eaten raw or with minimal processing, the Indigenous peoples were generally well nourished.

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Their traditional diet was nutritious and high in calories, but the calories were needed to help keep their bodies warm through the long, cold winters. During the short summers, the Indigenous peoples (mainly the women) would plant small gardens and gather wild berries and seeds. Corn, beans, and squash were common vegetables grown in the small gardens of Manitoba and Alberta.

Grains such as corn, wheat, and wild rice were harvested and dried. Grains would sometimes be ground to produce flour or mixed with water and cooked to make such things as bannock, a traditional Indigenous food.

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Let's learn a little more about the traditional Indigenous food bannock!

Bannock is a type of fry bread, which originated from Scotland but was eventually adopted by the Indigenous peoples of Canada, particularly the Métis of western Canada. The Scottish cooked the bread on a griddle called a Bannock Stone, which they placed on the floor in front of a fire.

The bread was brought to Canada by Scottish explorers and traders, where the Indigenous peoples adopted the recipe over the 18th and 19th centuries, using corn flour or plants rather than the wheat flour of the Europeans. It was usually prepared as a large biscuit that could be broken up or wrapped around a stick.

It is a simple bread but quick to make and useful for travelling and while in the wilderness. It’s a source of carbohydrates and a fulfilling meal, which was a staple for wilderness explorers, trappers, and prospectors.

As you can see, the traditional Indigenous people's diet was very healthy. Especially when you compare it to that of today's North American diet. The typical North American plate is filled with refined grains, foods with added sugar and fats, meat, and poultry. Although lack of exercise plays a role, the growing obesity epidemic has a lot to do with what we eat. Not only does the typical North American diet affect weight, but it also increases the risk of chronic illnesses such as cardiovascular disease and type-2 diabetes.

Two of the highest sources of calories in the North American diet are sweets and soda. Sweets include foods such as cakes, cookies, pies, and pastries. Both sweets and soda contribute calories but do not offer any nutritional value. Decreasing your intake of these foods can help you decrease your caloric intake, which might help you maintain a healthier weight. 

As well, as you learned in the previous activity, following Canada's Food Guide to Healthy Living can also help you to make better food choices to keep you healthy.