Hoobiyee is a First Nation event celebrating the Nisga’a New Year in March at Vancouver’s PNE Forum. It features Indigenous dance groups from across BC.
In 2025 the event takes place on February 28th and March 1st.
This article contains the following information about Hoobiyee:
When and Where | What to Expect | Event Schedule | Hoobiyee Video | Other Information
Hoobiyee New Year Celebrations at the PNE
Hoobiyee (pronounced “Ho-bee-yeah”) takes place at the PNE Forum in Vancouver. Admission is usually free and all are welcome.
The Lower Mainland version of the event is put on by the Nisga’a Ts’amiks Vancouver Society. A similar event takes place in northern BC around the same time of the year, in the Nisga’a Nation’s traditional territory.
First Nations from across the province attend Hoobiyee. Participating dancers in recent years have included groups from the Gitxsan Nation (in the Skeena region of Northern BC), the local Skwxwu7mesh (Squamish) Nation, Ts’msyen (from northern coastal BC), Lil’wat (from just north of Whistler) and Xaadas (from Haida Gwaii).
The Nisga’a Nation itself is based in northwestern BC near the Alaskan Panhandle and the Hoobiyee event is in celebration of their New Year.
When and Where
Hoobiyee usually takes place in late February or early March each year. In 2025 it happens on the Friday and Saturday of February 28th and March 1st. Last year the celebrations began at 10:00 am on both days. There is also a Welcome Feast on the Thursday one day before, so likely on February 27th in 2025. Exact details about the Welcome Feast, and times for the weekend, however, are to be confirmed.
The PNE Forum is located at 2901 East Hastings Street at the corner of Renfrew and Hastings in Vancouver.
INDIGENOUS SPORT GALLERY
The BC Sports Hall of Fame is home to a great Indigenous Sport Gallery. While in Vancouver, you should check it out! There are also special events at the venue on and around National Indigenous Peoples Day in June.
What to Expect
There are numerous dance performances as well as drumming and singing at the Vancouver Hoobiyee event on the Friday and Saturday. Dance groups typically perform in the middle of the main auditorium. Chairs are laid out for elders along the edge. Children sometimes sit on the floor and the majority of the audience sits in the bleachers.
In addition to the dancing, at Hoobiyee there is a market area most years where dozens of community organizations and vendors have informational literature and products for sale. There are Indigenous art, jewellery, clothing and other artisan goods at the market most years.
Expect to see between a few hundred and a couple of thousand people at Hoobiyee, or even more depending on when you go. Most attendees are in regular everyday clothes, but others (including the dancers) are in traditional regalia.
Both indoors and outside near the entrance there are typically food vendors selling a variety of menu items including bannock and other traditional Indigenous cuisine.
Event Schedule
The schedule of performances and activities for both days of the 2024 Hoobiyee event is listed below. The 2025 schedule will be similar. As you can see, many different dance groups and other entertainers participate. Each day opens and closes with prayers and speeches. (Note: Exact details below were subject to change.)
Friday, March 1st, 2024
- 10:00 am – Doors opened
- 10:30 am – Opening speeches and prayers
- 10:45 am – Adawakhi Hoobiyee
- 10:50 am – School groups education and storytelling
- 11:50 am – Maaqtusiis Elementary School
- 12:55 pm – Stz’uminus Young Wolves
- 1:50 pm – Tla-o-qui-aht
- 2:45 pm – Announcements
- 3:40 pm – Gitmaxmakay
- 4:40 pm – Huu-ay-aht Dancers
- 5:15 pm – Break and assembly
- 5:45 pm – Grand Entry and Speeches by Host Nisga’a Ts’amiks
- 6:45 pm – Nisga’a Ts’amiks Traditional Dancers
- 7:30 pm – Lax Kxeen
- 8:15 pm – Urban Kwakwaka’wakw
- 9:30 pm – Closing speeches and prayers
Saturday, March 2nd, 2024
- 10:00 am – Doors opened
- 10:30 am – Opening speeches and prayers
- 10:45 am – Adawakhi Hoobiyee
- 11:00 am – All Nations – lexwst’i:lem Drum Group
- 11:30 am – Welh Tima Kexwusem
- 12:15 pm – Haisla Braid
- 1:10 pm – Gitlaxt’aamiks Ceremonial Dancers
- 2:00 pm – Liĺwat saqúta
- 3:00 pm – Drum Drill – Nisga’a Ts’amiks Traditional Dancers
- 4:10 pm – Gitmaxmakay
- 5:00 pm – Lax Kxeen
- 6:10 pm – Ahousat Cultural Group
- 7:00 pm – Git Hayetsk
- 7:45 pm – Urban Heiltsuk Dance Group
- 8:30 pm – Grand Finale with Nisga’a Ts’amiks Traditional Dancers
- 9:15 pm – Closing speeches and prayers
Hoobiyee Video
The following video is from Hoobiyee at the PNE Forum in February of 2018. The event features a variety of dancing activities. There is also drumming, singing and other culturally rich and family-friendly things to witness.
If you ever get a chance to attend Hoobiyee, you should go, even if it’s for a short visit. The event is entertaining, educational and inclusive.
Other Information
For more information about the Nisga’a Nation’s New Year celebrations, see the Nisga’a Ts’amiks Vancouver Society website.
For information about similar events at other times of the year, check out First Nations Culture in the Lower Mainland or Vancouver’s Festivals & Events Calendar.
Another Indigenous cultural event this time of year is the Coastal First Nations Dance Festival with the Dancers of Damelahamid.
Other articles that might be of interest include the following:
- Vancouver’s February and March Calendars
- Events at the PNE
- Vancouver Rainy Day Activities
- Vancouver on a Budget