Native American Origins of an American Delicacy
Chicken has become the most commonly eaten meat consumed in America. Most people have forgotten the important native American contribution to this fundamental part of the American diet. Prior to the European arrival in North America, many native tribes subsisted on birds for food. Geese and turkey were commonly eaten during migration season in the fall, but day to day meals often focused on smaller birds. The snipe was a common native source of food. The small flightless bird, native to America, was a staple among many tribes. After the snipe was driven to extinction following the arrival of the Europeans, many tribes adopted the chicken as a replacement. Traditional Native Chicken Dance The Chickasaw Tribes in what is today part of Kentucky, were one of the early adopters of chickens, which they called the birds “kievsea” which essentially means “food bird.” Unlike snipe which had been hunted, the kevsea were generally maintained in flocks, much as the European settlers raised th