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Pemmican's timeline stretches back to the early interactions between European colonists and Native Americans. One of the first recorded mentions was by fur trader Peter Pond, with Sir Alexander MacKenzie, known for his remarkable continental trek, relying heavily on pemmican during his expeditions.

The Métis people, descendants of Indigenous women and European fur traders, emerged as significant producers of pemmican. Their proficiency in hunting and preparing this energy-dense food allowed them to thrive in their harsh environments while also trading with colonists.