These Mi'kmaw girls aren't eating berries for a year as a part of a coming of age ceremony

On the evening of a new moon in June, a group of Mi'kmaw girls from Eel River Bar First Nation in New Brunswick gathered in front of their community to savour one final taste of berries before beginning a year-long berry fast.

Surrounded by family and community members, last week the group of girls aged nine to 13 marked the beginning of a Mi'kmaw rites of passage ceremony. The teachings they receive over the next year, or 13 moons, will guide them into womanhood.

Pyper-Jo Miller, 9, said the fast will will help prepare her for the changes that come with growing up. 

"Since we're growing into women, we are going to be changing a lot," said Miller.

"So we're [learning] to be more independent."

So just what does a berry fast entail? 

Throughout the year the girls will abstain from eating berries and some other activities to learn about self-discipline, and will also learn traditional knowledge from mentors on womanhood.

Nala Labillois, 10, said her favourite part of the day was receiving her spirit name.

"Little Otter swimming with Grandmother Moon," Labillois said proudly. 

As they enjoyed their last taste of berries, the girls were supported by newly established clan mothers, a role for women in the community who have volunteered to walk alongside the girls throughout the year.

During the ceremony, the clan mothers stood on either side of the girls, physically reaching out in a gesture of support, symbolizing their commitment to guide the girls through their transition.

"It feels like [the clan mothers] were giving me love and I'm grateful they cheered me on," said Labillois.

Elder Jean Bartibogue travelled from Esgenoôpetitj First Nation to share the teachings with the community. She has led berry fast ceremonies for Wabanaki girls across Atlantic Canada and New England.

She said this work is about grounding and guiding soon-to-be women in ceremony and helping them connect with their identity.

"It's very important to show them that unconditional love at this time because they are going to be the matriarchs of their community," said Bartibogue.

"If we don't understand our ceremonies, we become confused, wondering where we are in life, what's our purpose in life, 'Do I even matter?'"

During the ceremony, the girls were gifted with their first bundle, ash baskets containing ceremonial items for use on each of the 13 full moons ahead. 

"They're at the level where they're in their emotional stage of their life and they can have direct connection to the ancestors in the spirit world," said Bartibogue.

She explained that to better understand their connection to the spirit world, on the evening of full moons the girls are instructed to sit in solitude, with no television or radio, for up to four hours.

Lynn Labillois invited Bartibogue to Eel River Bar, and was moved by how many women from the community stepped into a clan mother role.

"You could tell that these women would have wanted that for themselves as well, if they only had that opportunity," said Lynn Labillois, who also stepped into the role of clan mother.

"Our youth can walk in a better way and have that sense of identity that so many of us didn't have until later on in life."

She is hopeful that in the future the community will come together again to host rites of passage for young men becoming adults.