Rites of passage are moments that mark important milestones in a person’s life. Each culture, Aboriginal or not, celebrates rites of passage.
Among the Attikamekw-Nehirowisiwok and the Eeyou (Cree), the walking-out ceremony marks the moment when children really become part of the community; they are no longer babies. At this point, the whole community commits to being an example for the children. During the ceremony, the one-year-old children walk out of the house for the first time over a path strewn with fir branches, dressed in traditional costume and accompanied by their godparents.
When people are facing a big change or an important stage of life, for example, becoming an adult, they may be asking themselves many questions. Several rituals can help them find answers, such as the vision quest or the sweat tent; it is believed that during these rituals, people come into contact with spirits that can help them.