One answer to part of both your questions, Wally, is that pemmican has an indefinite shelf life, even without refrigeration.
What you say about cooking the fat is true, but it's truth depends on the temperature at which you cook the fat. I am not a raw-foodist myself and eat a daily total of 600-700g (about 1/1/2 lbs) meat freshly (if lightly) cooked twice a day.
Keith