Native American Food

1
Native American Food

• Anthropology 85A
• Professor Tanis Thorne
• By Yu Ong Ryan Yabut

2
Fry Bread as a Project

• We chose to do a project on fry bread because we
  thought fry bread to be interesting as it became
  part of Pan-Indian culture and its huge role in
  ceremonies and activities in all Native American
  cultures in North America. However, what made it
  more interesting to research is how it became
  part of all these cultures when it was not
  originally a traditional cultural delicacy of any
  Indian tribes in North America until the 19th
  century. Thus, categorizing it as a recent
  addition to any Indian culture. Its progression
  into being part of Pan-Indian culture shows how
  important it is as it is adopted by all Native
  American culture as a traditional food.

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The History of Fry Bread

• Fry bread is considered to be a traditional
  food, however it evolved in the mid-19th
  century. It all began with an American scout
  called Kit Carson (on the right) and his troops,
  who drove the Navajo people from their lands by
  destroying their means of survival. They killed
  sheep, goats, and horses poisoned wells burned
  orchards and crops and destroyed shelters.
• They then rounded up thousands of starving Navajo
  and sent them on the "Long Walk" to Fort Sumner
  at Bosque Redondo, New Mexico.

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• The Long Walk of the Navajo, also called the
  Long Walk to Bosque Redondo, was an Indian
  removal effort of the United States government in
  1863 and 1864.
• At least 200 died along the 300-mile trek, and
  the reservation itself was little more than a
  prison camp. Between 8,000 and 9,000 people were
  settled on a 40 square mile area, with the peak
  population being 9,022 in spring 1865.
• The Navajos were imprisoned at Fort Sumner for
  four years. While the Navajos were at Fort
  Sumner, they were only given white flour and
  lard.
• With the white flour and lard, the Navajo women
  at Fort Sumner had to use poor-quality rations
  (provided by the United States government) to
  make their meals. Here, the Navajo women combined
  everything and fried it on a hot pan with lard.

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Fry Bread as a Pan-Indian Food

• Fry Bread is an all-purpose flat bread that is
  considered to be a staple of Indian cuisine
  (originally a staple of Navajo cuisine).
  
• Fry bread is an integral menu item at tribal and
  family gatherings and a good fry bread maker is
  honored in Native American communities.
  
• Fry Bread has become an Pan Native American food
  because it has been adopted in all Native
  American cultures.
  
• The dough is a variation of that used for flour
  tortillas, consisting of wheat flour, shortening,
  salt, and water, leavened with baking powder or
  yeast. Navajo Fry Bread is originally a tradition
  of Arizona and New Mexico, and fry bread with
  honey butter is a specialty in New Mexico (which
  all have been adopted by other tribes).

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Different forms of Fry Bread

• The different ways fry bread are used today are
• The Indian Taco (formerly called the Navajo
  Taco), which is one of the most famous kinds of
  fry bread. (As seen on the top right)
  
• The Indian Taco is a fry bread covered with
  ground beef, pinto beans, tomatoes, and lettuce.
  
• Fry bread covered with either honey or powder
  sugar to become widely known as a sweet treat.
  (As seen on the bottom right)
  
• The Indian Burger is two pieces o f fry bread
  encasing a large beef patty covered with various
  toppings and sauces.
  
• The Indian Hot Dog is a fry bread wrapped around
  a long piece of sausage covered with various
  sauces and/or toppings.

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Is lard still used today?

• The answer is No. Different types of oil are
  used today to make fry Bread.
  
• One of the reasons why fry bread is no longer
  fried in lard is because of the health risks of
  using lard as it contains high levels of
  saturated fat and cholesterol.
• The oils used today to make fry bread vary from
  each tribe as some use vegetable, canola, or
  olive oil.

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How to make Fry Bread

• Ingredients
• 2 cups all-purpose flour2 teaspoons baking
  powder1/4 cup instant nonfat dry milk1/4
  teaspoon saltWarm waterVegetable OilHoney or
  powdered sugar                                    
       
• In a large bowl, combine flour, baking powder,
  dry milk, and salt. Slowly add enough warm water
  to form a workable dough (start by adding 1 cups
  of water, then more if needed) knead until
  smooth but still slightly sticky. Cover the bowl
  with plastic wrap and let the dough rest at room
  temperature for at least 30 minutes or up to 2
  hours. After resting, divide dough into 4 equal
  pieces.

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• On a lightly floured surface, roll each piece of
  dough into a small ball and pat into a flat
  circle about 8 inches in diameter and 1/4 inch
  thick (it will puff up a lot) cut a steam vent
  in the middle of each circle of dough.
• In a large, deep frying pan, heat 1 to 2 inches
  of vegetable oil (enough oil to flat the dough)
  to 357 degrees Fahrenheit. Fry the dough pieces,
  one at a time and turning once, for 2 minutes on
  each side or until golden brown (the bread will
  puff slightly and become crisp and brown). Remove
  from hot oil and drain on paper towels. Keep warm
  until ready to serve.
• This recipe is the original Navajo recipe for fry
  bread and makes about 4 servings of Navajo fry
  breads.
  
• Other recipes of fry bread can be found online as
  each tribe throughout North America has their own
  version of fry bread.
  
• Each recipe differs in the ingredients used and
  method of cooking but all are based on this
  original recipe.
  

10
A 20-year-old Creek Indian women making fry bread
for a cultural gathering.
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How to make an Indian Taco

• Ingredients
• 1 pound lean ground meat (beef, lamb, venison or
  pork)1 cup diced onion4 cooked Navajo Fry
  Breads (see recipe above)1 head iceberg lettuce,
  shredded3 tomatoes, diced2 cups shredded sharp
  Cheddar cheese1 (3-ounce) can diced green
  chilies, drainedSour cream (optional)
• In a large frying pan over medium-high heat,
  brown ground meat and onions until cooked remove
  from heat.

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• Place Fry Bread, cupped side up, on separate
  plates.
  
• Layer ground meat, lettuce, tomatoes, Cheddar
  cheese, and green chilies onto top of each Fry
  Bread.
  
• Top with sour cream, if desired, and either roll
  up or serve open-faced with a fork.
  

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Cultural Significance of Fry Bread

• Ever since its creation by the Navajo in the 19th
  century, the fry bread has been adopted by
  numerous tribes around North America.
  
• Fry bread soon became a Pan-Indian tradition as
  it is now imbedded deeply into the cultures of
  various tribes in the United States.
  
• It has been so imbedded into various American
  Indian cultures as many Indians cant imagine
  going without it as many have built their
  identity around the popular concoction.
• Fry bread is now used in almost every Indian
  ceremony and cultural gathering.
  
• For example, the Hopi Indians in northeastern
  Arizona will have fry bread along with Hopi
  cuisine during their ceremonies.

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• Fry bread is now a subject that links all
  American Indians together.
  
• Fry bread has increased the unity between each
  Native American tribe in North America as it has
  created a common cultural aspect they all share.
  
• One of the largest cultural gatherings that fry
  bread can be found are in Native American
  Powwows.
  
• A Powwow is a gathering of Native Americans. It
  derives from the Narragansett word powwow,
  meaning shaman.
  
• Typically, a powwow consists of both Native
  Americans and non-Native Americans meeting in one
  specific area to dance, sing, socialize, and have
  a good time.
• Powwows vary in length as some may take 5 to 6
  hours or even a couple of days.

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Powwows

• Every weekend from April through October,
  thousands of Native Americans throughout the
  United States and Canada head to powwows.
  
• Powwows in the late 1800's and early 1900's,
  Indians were not allowed to have dances.
  Government officials  thought the dances were
  organized to resist federal forces. They did not
  realize that the dances were held only to honor
  their elders and warriors, give gifts and
  recognition to those deserving. It was also to
  sing honor songs, ask questions to the elders,
  teach by example, dance the sacred circle, and be
  healed.
• In the 1960's, officials finally realized that
  these dances and traditions were not dangerous,
  as they were only important to Native Americans.
  Native Americans today are developing deep pride
  in their culture and traditions.

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Fry Bread as a Symbol

• In todays Native American society, fry bread has
  become a symbol that represents the overall
  Pan-Indian culture and intertribal unity.
  
• It is a symbol that many American Indians are
  proud to show as some have created phrases like
  Fry Bread Power, which are now printed onto
  shirts, bumper stickers, and other various
  things.
• Some have even dedicated websites on fry bread
  and its symbolism to Pan-Indian culture and
  intertribal unity.
  

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Is Fry Bread an Icon or a Hazard?

• For the past several years, there has been an
  ongoing debate whether fry bread should be seen
  as an icon or a hazard.
  
• With fry bread deeply imbedded into various
  Native American cultures around North America, it
  has gained a status as an icon to represent the
  Pan-Indian culture and intertribal unity.
• Taking this away, many American Indians will lose
  a sense of the culture they all share and created
  as well as the unity they each have.
  
• However, fry bread has also gained a reputation
  to be one of the primary causes of obesity and
  type II diabetes in the Indian population.
  
• Although, not every case of obesity and diabetes
  among Indians can be blamed solely on fry bread
  as it takes other factors, such as a poor diet
  and a sedentary lifestyle.
• According to a nutritional analysis by the
  United States Department of Agriculture, one
  paper-plate size (standard size) fry bread
  contains 700 calories and 27 grams of fat with
  little to no vitamins and minerals.

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• Many believe the diabetes rate began to skyrocket
  when Indians stopped living off the land and
  began using government rations.
  
• In using government rations, Indians created fry
  bread as it is both easy and cheap to make.
  
• This made it convenient for many Native Americans
  as more than half of the total Native American
  population is considered to be below poverty
  lines.
• One of the people who believes fry bread to be
  hazardous is Steven Deo, an artist and a
  Creek/Euchee Indian.
  
• Deo created a series of public service
  announcement posters called Art for Indians
  (his first one on the right), which debuted on
  his art show in New Mexico.

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• Deos second poster depicts lard and other
  commodity foods. An equal sign follows the image,
  so that the message essentially reads
  Commoditiespublic assistance welfare.
• His series is specifically aimed at the Native
  American community to create a cognitive dialogue
  about themselves and their socio-economic class.
  
• Here, Deo is trying to argue that keeping fry
  bread as a symbol to represent Pan-Indian unity
  and culture, it is also something that prevents
  American Indians from changing their
  socio-economic status in the United States as
  they remain persistent on their reliance of this
  convenient but health hazardous product.
• There have been numerous reports done on the
  Native American population about their dietary
  quality and dependence on this highly popular
  commodity food.
• These reports have shown that if the intake of
  fry bread does not decrease in the Indian
  population, the rate of obesity and type II
  diabetes will continue to grow.
• The reports also suggests that the intake of fry
  bread is beginning to have a detrimental effect
  on Native American children as more are becoming
  obese at a young age and developing childrens
  type II diabetes.

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• Many have even considered/advised to completely
  eliminate fry bread from American Indian
  culture.
  
• This, of course, cause an uproar throughout the
  Native American population as fry bread has
  become an important aspect of various tribal
  cultures as well as the Pan Indian culture they
  have created.
• Others have suggested in trying to make fry bread
  as healthy as possible.
  
• Here, they argue that fry bread can still be part
  of their culture as well as their symbol as they
  modify the ingredients and methods of making fry
  bread.
• An example of a healthier recipe of fry bread
  is
  
• Ingredients
• 1 cup white flour
• ½ cup whole wheat flour
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon baking powder
• ½ cup honey
• vegetable oil
• Mix dry ingredients. Add water to dry
  ingredients, mix well. Knead dough on a floured
  board till it becomes elastic. Let Dough rest 10
  minutes, covered.
• Roll out dough till it is ½ inch thick. Cut into
  squares or circles. Deep-fry at 370 degrees
  Fahrenheit till golden brown drain on paper
  towels. Drizzle with honey and serve.
• This recipe makes 4 servings.

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• Despite the healthier version of fry bread, many
  have argued that that isnt enough to stop the
  increasing rate of obesity and type II diabetes
  in Native Americans.
• Instead, American Indians are being persuaded to
  save fry bread for highly special occasions only,
  thus limiting its consumption.
  
• The fry bread debate still continues today with
  no definite solution.

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Whats Your Opinion?

• Should fry bread be considered hazardous and be
  eliminated away from the culture or should it
  remain as an icon of Pan Indian unity and
  culture, while obesity and type II diabetes rates
  continue to increase?

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Our Opinions

• We believe fry bread should remain as a symbol
  for Pan Indian unity and culture because it is a
  type of food that is unique to Native American
  culture, which is mostly found on traditional
  gatherings such as a Powwow. However, Fry bread
  may cause risks of diabetes and obesity only if
  it is consumed in excessive amounts as it should
  not be something to be part of ones daily diet.
  Instead, fry bread should be eaten for special
  occasions only, such as Powwows and ceremonies.
  Also, fry bread recipes should be modified to add
  some nutritional values, such as using whole
  grain flour than white flour. This way fry bread
  remains to be part of the overall culture that
  has unified the Native American population
  together as a whole, while enjoying the
  worthwhile experience of such a cultural
  delicacy. Thus, this is what we believe as
  everyone should be able to experience an aspect
  of American Indian culture before it is decided
  to be removed completely.

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• Bibliography
• Dietary Quality of Native American Women in Rural
  California
  
• Ikeda, J.P., S. Murphy, R.A. Mitchell, N.
  Flynn, I.J. Mason, A. Lizer, and C.
  Lamp. "Dietary quality of Native American women
  in rural California." Journal of the American
  Dietetic Association 98.n7 (July
  1998) 812(3). Expanded Academic ASAP. Thomson
  Gale. UC Irvine (CDL). 5 June 2006 
  alegroup.com/itx/infomark.do?contentSetIAC-Docum
  entstyperetrievetabIDT002prodIdEAIMdocIdA2
  0944905sourcegaleuserGroupNameucirvineversion
  1.0.
• Feast or famine? Supplemental food programs and
  their impacts on two American Indian communities
  in California
  
• Dillinger, Teresa L., Stephen C. Jett, Martha J.
  Macri, and Louis E. Grivetti. "Feast or famine?
  Supplemental food programs and their impacts on
  two American Indian communities in
  California.(Statistical Data Included)." Internati
  onal Journal of Food Sciences and
  Nutrition 50.3 (May 1999) 173. Expanded Academic
  ASAP. Thomson Gale. UC Irvine (CDL). 5 June
  2006 
  contentSetIAC-DocumentstyperetrievetabIDT002
  prodIdEAIMdocIdA55041158sourcegalesrcprodEA
  IMuserGroupNameucirvineversion1.0.
• Fat Content of South Florida Indian Frybread
  Health Implications for a Pervasive
  Native-American Food
  
• SMITH, JANELL, and DENNIS WIEDMAN. "Fat content
  of south Florida Indian frybread Health
  implications for a pervasive Native-American
  food." Journal of the American Dietetic
  Association 101.5 (May 2001) 582. Expanded
  Academic ASAP. Thomson Gale. UC Irvine (CDL). 5
  June 2006 
  .do?contentSetIAC-DocumentstyperetrievetabID
  T002prodIdEAIMdocIdA75141099sourcegalesrcpr
  odEAIMuserGroupNameucirvineversion1.0.

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Bibliography (Cont.)

• The Diet Quality of American Indians Evidence
  From the Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by
  Individuals
  
• Basiotis, P. Peter, Mark Lino, and Rajen
  Anand. "The Diet Quality of American Indians
  Evidence From the Continuing Survey of Food
  Intakes by Individuals." Family Economics and
  Nutrition Review 12.2 (Fall 1999) 44. Expanded
  Academic ASAP. Thomson Gale. UC Irvine (CDL). 6
  June 2006 
  .do?contentSetIAC-DocumentstyperetrievetabID
  T002prodIdEAIMdocIdA61182350sourcegalesrcpr
  odEAIMuserGroupNameucirvineversion1.0.
• My New Years Resolution No More Fat Indian
  Food
  
• 10209
  
• Picture of fry bread with honey
• e/0,1801,HGTV_3178_2032993,00.html
  
• Picture of Indian Taco or Navajo Taco
• Icon or Hazard? The Great Debate Over Fry Bread
  
  
• History of Navajo Fry Bread
• The Epidemic of Obesity in American Indian
  Communities and the Need for Childhood
  Obesity-Prevention Programs
  
• Second Picture of Fry Bread

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Bibliography (Cont.)

• Picture of Eagle Spirit
• ages/CheFryB.JPG
  
• Picture of Fry Bread Stand
• .jpg
  
• Picture of Global Gourmet
• fry.jpg