Where man is now advancing towards artificial intelligence, hover boards and robots that have been given citizenship, it is hard to imagine that in certain parts of the world, indigenous tribes still exist, providing us with the privilege of getting a glimpse of our own primeval past.
These tribes still live in exactly the same way that their ancestors have, amidst nature, providing for themselves and their clan with no dependence on the modern world. The modern world has, however, left no stones unturned to disrupt the virgin integrity of these tribes and as such, many of these have been put on the brink of extinction.
It is a known fact that these tribes follow the hunter-gatherer model of sustenance of our forefathers. But what do they eat on a daily basis? What is their diet like? Are their diets a reflection of their lifestyle?
Let’s have a look at some of the indigenous tribes and their food habits:
1. Nenets
Amidst the extremely harsh, Northern Arctic permafrost of Russia live the nomadic Nenets or Samoyeds. Nenets are reindeer herders and have a migratory way of life. The most important food is reindeer meat, eaten raw, frozen or boiled. Raw reindeer blood, fish and berries also form a part of their life. Civil war and industrialization not only provides them with modern day food but also threatens their very existence!
2. Maasai Warriors
Known for their unique culture, traditions and dressing, the semi-nomadic Maasai people inhabit the arid lands of the Great Rift Valley, extending from Kenya through Tanzania. With no interest in modern lifestyle, the Maasai warriors depend on nature for sustenance. The traditional diet include milk, meat and blood. They rear cattle and hence, milk is a part of every meal. Drinking raw or cooked cow’s blood and also milk-blood concoction is their unique tradition.
3. Himba Tribe
The Himba people live in the dry desert region of Kunene in Namibia. One of the most fascinating indigenous tribes of Namibia, they are famous for covering their bodies with “Otjize”, a reddish mixture of butter fat and ochre, to protect themselves from the scorching sun and mosquito bites. The Himbas are into livestock farming, which provide them milk and meat. They also grow maize and millet. Eggs, herbs, honey, cornmeal, etc. also form a part of their diet.
4. Huli Tribe
The Huli is the largest indigenous tribe to inhabit the Tari Basin, Papua New Guinea. They are most popularly called Huli Wigmen as the men grow their hair to form wigs that they decorate for special occasions. The Hulis are hunter-gatherers. They eat yams, a large, starchy root called manioc and meat from domestic pigs. They also eat wild cassowary, tree kangaroos, or cuscus.
5. Kalahari San Bushmen
The San Bushmen are the hunter-gatherers of Botswana’s Kalahari Desert. An ancient tribe that inspired the famous movie “The Gods must be crazy, the uniqueness of this tribe lies in the fact that their diet is plant-based. Highly nutritious plants like hoodia, mongogo nuts, tsama melon and many underground tubers and roots form their food although occasionally they do hunt animals and eat their meat.
6. Māori People
The tangata whenua of New Zealand, Māori People are Polynesian in origin and have inhabited New Zealand for over 1000 years. This tribe has evolved tremendously and is semi-modernised. The Māoris traditionally eat kūmara, yam, taro, kiore (Polynesian rat), kurī (Polynesian dog), birds, seafood, and also ferns, palms, fungi, berries, seeds and fruits. They also eat cultivated grains and farmed animals currently.
7. Tsaatan Nomads
The nomadic Tsaatan or Dukha people of Khövsgöl Aimag, Mongolia are reindeer herders. A small community of 40 families at a time, they migrate to new pastures several times a year and set up temporary camps. But the most extraordinary fact about this tribe is they do not eat reindeer meat. They eat yoghurt, cheese and milk from reindeer, berries and bread. They are dependent on the reindeers for transportation, clothing and survival.
8. Hamar Tribe
Hamar is a pagan tribe inhabiting the Omo Valley in South-west Ethiopia. They are into crop cultivation and livestock farming. They have unique traditions and customs, the most distinct of which is the wedding tradition. They mainly eat porridge made from maize and sorghum along with honey, butter and cheese. They also indulge in a local homemade beer-like beverage.
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