Native American Flutes Native American Art and Artifacts

The buffalo, which numbered around 50 million in North America at the turn of the 17Th century formed the mainstay of the Native Americans diet. After a successful buffalo hunt an adult might consume as much as 40lbs of buffalo meat a day. They ate thin slices of raw meat from the buffalo's hump or feasted on the perishable parts such as the brains, blood, kidney, and liver. The meat was roasted or broiled over a fire with flavorful herbs. The meat that wasn't eaten immediately was cut into thin strips and hung up to dry. Tougher cuts were mixed with berries, melted bone fat, and herbs and packed into a solid block called a "pemmican"; these were kept in pouches and used by hunters and gatherers when they were away from home.

Rabbit, squirrel, and deer meat was also eaten. Sometimes they made stews to which they added a highly pungent wild onion.

Many tribes also grew crops, especially maize. Many Native Americans believed maize has a SEE DB