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.

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

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. The celebrations begin at 10:00 am and continue until around 9:30 pm on both days. There is also a Welcome Feast at Fraserview Banquet Hall one day before, so on February 27th in 2025.

The PNE Forum is located at 2901 East Hastings Street at the corner of Renfrew and Hastings in Vancouver. Fraserview Banquet Hall, on the other hand, is located at 8240 Fraser Street 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.

Mr Bannock Food Truck — Mr. Bannock Food Truck

Event Schedule

The schedule of performances and activities for both days of the 2025 Hoobiyee event is listed below. 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 are subject to change.)

Friday, February 28th, 2025

10:00 am – Doors open
10:30 am – Opening ceremony
11:00 am – Adawakhi Hoobiyee
11:15 am – Nisga’a elders share the story of Hoobiyee
12:00 pm – Welh Tima Kexwusem – Skwxwu7mesh
1:00 pm – Chinook Song Catchers
2:00 pm – Tla-o-qui-aht
3:00 pm – The Young Wolves
4:00 pm – Break and door prize draw
4:10 pm – Honouring the late Simoogit Chester Moore
5:00 pm – Grand entry led by Vancouver Nisga’a Dancers
6:00 pm – Lax Kxeen
7:00 pm – Gitsegukla Gidahmes Dancers
8:00 pm – Vancouver Nisga’a Ts’amiks Dancers
9:00 pm – Closing speeches and prayers

Saturday, March 1st, 2025

10:00 am – Doors open
10:30 am – Opening speeches and prayers
10:45 am – Adawakhi Hoobiyee
10:50 am – Carnegie lexwst’i:lem Drum Group
11:20 am – MMFN Culture Group
12:00 pm – Kwaxiladzi Dancers
1:00 pm – Maaqtusiis Cultural Group
2:00 pm – Liĺwat Saqúta
3:00 pm – Ahousat Cultural Group
3:40 pm – Indian Residential School Survivors Society: Honouring Survivors
4:00 pm – Break
4:10 pm – Drum Drill: Vancouver Nisga’a Ts’amiks Dancers
5:00 pm – Vancouver Nisga’a Dancers
6:00 pm – Git Hayetsk Dancers
7:00 pm – Urban Heiltsuk Dance Group
8:00 pm – Grand finale with Vancouver Nisga’a Dancers
9:00 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.