Hoobiyee Dancers

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 2024 the event takes place on March 1st and 2nd.

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 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.

Nisga'a Hoobiyee New Year Celebrations — A Hoobiyee Performance at the PNE Forum

When and Where

Hoobiyee usually takes place in February each year. In 2024, however, it happens on the Friday and Saturday of March 1st and 2nd. The celebrations begin at 10:00 am on both days. Meanwhile, the Thursday feast happens one day before, so on February 29th this year.

The PNE Forum is located at 2901 East Hastings Street at the corner of Renfrew and Hastings in Vancouver.

Hoobiyee First Nations Drummers — Drummers at Hoobiyee 2018

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.

Mr Bannock Food Truck — Mr. Bannock Food Truck

Event Schedule

The schedule of performances and activities for both days of the 2024 Hoobiyee event is listed below. As you can see, there are lots of different dance groups and other entertainers participating this year. Each day opens and closes with prayers and speeches. Exact details below are subject to change.

Friday, March 1st, 2024

10:00 am – Doors open
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 Tsamiks 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 open
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.