Pemmican is a traditional Native American food made from a mixture of dried meat, fat, and sometimes berries. It was historically used as a portable, high-energy food source for hunters and travelers, as it is nutrient-dense and has a long shelf life. The meat is typically dried and ground into a powder, then combined with rendered fat and optional ingredients like dried fruits. Pemmican played a crucial role in sustaining Indigenous peoples and later explorers in North America.