While there are shared similarities in the berry fasting practice, Indigenous communities have their own traditional practices and protocols unique to their culture. According to Ojibwe Elder Liza Mosher, “a young woman fasts from strawberries and other berries for a full year when she gets her first menstrual cycle” (Wabano, “Strawberry Teachings”). For this year, young women will “spend time with grandmothers” to learn “about womanhood and how to bring life into the world” while gathering berries to present “to the community” when the fast is complete. During the first year of their menstrual cycle, young women learn how to “care for and to sustain their people” (Wabano, “Strawberry Teachings”). 

Berry fasting activities differ from community to community, and may involve specific teachings, cultural protocols, and a ceremony to mark the event. Akeesha Footman (Anishinaabe Oshkiniikwe), illustrates how “the berry fast ceremony marks the stage of life” when girls become women through teachings and the learning of cultural protocols (Muskrat Magazine, “My Berry Fast”). Footman further explains how the year after the berry fast she “did not eat berries of any kind” and this “taught her” how to “say ‘no’ and learn patience, strength, and self-discipline". Additionally, for the year after the berry fast, women must refrain from “dancing [their] jingle dress,” “playing with babies,” and “having a boyfriend” (Muskrat Magazine, “My Berry Fast”).  

See also: Week 36: Jingle dress 

Learn more

For more information, please consider the following resources:  

• Traditional Teachings | The Kwek Society. (n.d.).
• Gii’igoshimowin: Anishinaabeg Fasting Teachings w/Pebaamibines. (2022). [Video recording; see 45:56 for Women’s Fast].
• Isnati Awica Lowanpi, "First Moon Ceremony". (n.d.). Lakota Youth Development.