FAQS: Aboriginal History Unit
Is there such a thing as “petrified pemmican”?
This hard, knobby, black lump may look like petrified pemmican, but in fact it is a fungus called tuckahoe that grows within the roots of aspen trees. They are turned up whenever trees are plowed out.
Tuckahoe is related to the truffle, a highly-prized and very expensive fungus from France that is rooted out by specially trained pigs and dogs. First Nations did use tuckahoe for food (one person who brought in a sample for identification was convinced he could taste saskatoons in it). However, none of us at the RSM has ever eaten a piece.
For further information contact the Curator of Aboriginal History
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