Pages of the Past

Food in the Western American Frontier

Several factors shaped diet in the American Western frontier, which included the territories of Dakota, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Idaho, Montana, Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Colorado. Lois Mcbride, the author of Western Cooking: Hearty Food for Hungry Folks (1976) writes about the food and her family’s connection to life on the frontier. The West during the years 1840-1900 was a difficult place to settle. The vastness of the frontier meant that they had to rely on themselves and their communities for survival. Travelers faced challenges like unpredictable weather, scarcity of resources, and the constant threat of conflict with Indigenous tribes. Settlers had to adapt to the harsh conditions and develop skills in hunting, farming, and trading to sustain themselves. The lack of established institutions and law enforcement meant that traditional culture was disrupted and food and foodways were often at the center of these changes.

Cowboy Culture

Cattle ranching in the American West created the rugged lifestyle of cowboys that we know today. It required men to work long hours, facing many different weather patterns, and moving thousands of cattle hundreds of miles away. Cowboys lived a nomadic life, roaming the endless, plains or deserts, driving beasts long distances, and facing challenges of harsh weather and dangerous encounters with outlaws and wildlife. They also faced deadly conflicts with Indigenous tribes often because of cattle grazing on native lands. Many of these cattle ranchers had to settle for very little when it came to food, there wasn’t access to many ingredients, although meat was in abundance and beans could travel well. The method of cooking that ranchers used was cooking over a fire, this was done with either a pan or Dutch oven in which they would make breads, quick stews, fish, and beans. Traditionally, although women would typically do the cooking, when men were away from home, they cooked for themselves and other men. Over time, campfire, or outdoor cooking (near nature, over open fire) became seen as one of the few times when men cooking was acceptable in society.

A Woman’s Life

Women played a crucial role in the Western American frontier. While often overlooked in historical narratives, they contributed in various ways as pioneers, homesteaders, and ranchers. In addition to their typical gendered role as caretaker for children, cook, gardener, and housekeeper. Since there was no way of transporting fresh goods, food had to be grown and used cautiously and women would play a significant role in harvesting while also preparing the food items. A common food eaten in the West were various stew made in a Dutch oven, they were often easy to make and were very hearty meals. Women also played a vital role in establishing and maintaining communities and supporting schools, churches, and social organizations by being powerful activists in communities that had little to no governance. Moreover, when a husband was away, a wife would also be responsible for managing the ranch, and all of the husband’s duties. Women were often the backbone of family life, providing strength, resilience, and nurturing.

Native American Importance on the Plains

Many Indigenous tribes in the West such as the Paiute, Navajo, Comanche, Blackfoot, Hopi, and many more made significant contributions during their times on the plains. Native Americans turned corn, yams, potatoes, and pumpkins into domesticated foods that became popular for human consumption. Before settlers came to North America, western Indigenous tribes were largely nomadic, following their food, especially bison. They had a deep understanding of the land and its resources, which were either shared with new settlers, and often taught the new arrivals survival skills, like hunting, fishing, and farming techniques. Native Americans also played important roles as guides, translators, and intermediaries between different groups. While it's important to acknowledge the contributions of Native Americans, it's also crucial to recognize that conflicts did arise between settlers and Indigenous people, and the ultimate displacement of Indigenous people. Many settlers used force to drive tribes off their land such as in the case of the Navajo and Apache at Bosque Redondo, 1863-1868. Similarly, the United States Government would kill approximately 2 million bison to control native people through food access and food security.

Sources 

Macauley Justine (2010) “How the West was Played: The Influence of Wild West Shows on American Identity and Perceptions of Gender, 1870 to 1920” Historical Perspectives: Santa Clara University Undergraduate Journal of History, Series II: Vol. 15, Article 7. pp 1-20. 

McBride, Lois. Western Cooking: Hearty Food for Hungry Folks. D. McKay Co., 1976. 

McPherson, Robert S. “Navajos, Utes and the Paiute Connection, 1860–1880.” Northern Navajo Frontier 1860 1900, University Press of Colorado, 2001, pp. 5–20. JSTOR 

Underwood, June O., “Western Woman and True WomanhoodCulture and Symbol in History and Literature” (1985). Great Plains Quarterly. 1848, pp. 93-105.