Hoobiyee Dancers

Hoobiyee is a First Nation event celebrating the Nisga’a New Year in February at Vancouver’s PNE Forum. It features Indigenous dance groups from across BC.

In years when it takes place the event normally happens sometime in February. In 2023, however, its dates are March 3rd and 4th.

HOOBIYEE VIDEO

For a glimpse of what Hoobiyee and Nisga’a New Year festivities look like, check out the video at the bottom of this article.

Hoobiyee New Year Celebrations at the PNE

Hoobiyee (pronounced “Ho-bee-yeah”) takes place at the PNE Forum in Vancouver most years. Admission is 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 took place on February 28th and 29th in 2020 at the PNE Forum. The event didn’t happen in 2021 or 2022 because of the coronavirus. It does take place in 2023, however, on the Thursday to Saturday of March 2nd to 4th. The Thursday feast starts at 5:00 pm, whereas the celebrations on the Friday and Saturday begin at 10:00 am.

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

As of late February, exact details about 2023 festivities are to be confirmed.

There are usually numerous dance performances as well as drumming and singing at the Vancouver Hoobiyee event on the Friday and Saturday. Dance groups 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 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 costumes.

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

Hoobiyee Event Schedule

In previous years, Hoobiyee involved two full days of performances by ten or so different dance groups. It’s an impressive cultural event and worth checking out.

The event schedule for 2018 is listed below. 2023 details are to be confirmed.

Note: times and details are always subject to change.

Friday, February 2, 2018

11:00 am – Opening Remarks
11:15 am – Adaawakhl Hoobiyee
11:30 am – Chinook Song Catchers (Skwxwu7mesh)
12:30 pm – Kwhlii Gibaygum Nisga’a Dance Group (Nisga’a)
1:00 pm – Urban Heiltsuk Dance Group (Haitzaqv)
2:00 pm – Lax Kxeen Dance Group (Ts’msyen)
3:00 pm – Kwhlii Gibaygum Nisga’a Dance Group (Nisga’a)
5:00 pm – Grand Entry (All Dance Groups)
6:00 pm – Iswalh Dance Group (Lil’wat)
7:00 pm – Gidahmes Dance Group (Gitxsan)
8:00 pm – Git Hayetsk Dance Group (Nisga’a/Ts’msyen)
9:00 pm – Drum Drill

Saturday, February 3, 2018

11:00 am – Opening Remarks
11:15 am – Adaawakhl Hoobiyee
11:30 am – Kwakwaka’wakw Urban Dance Group (Kwakwaka’wakw)
12:30 pm – Ahousaht Dance Group (Ahousaht)
1:30 pm – Iswalh Dance Group (Lil’wat)
2:30 pm – Gidahmes Dance Group (Gitxsan)
3:30 pm – Git Hayetsk Dance Group (Nisga’a/Ts’msyen)
4:30 pm – Lax Kxeen Dance Group (Ts’msyen)
5:30 pm – Urban Heiltsuk Dance Group (Haitzaqv)
6:30 pm – Rainbow Creek Dance Group (Xaadas)
7:30 pm – Kwhlii Gibaygum Nisga’a Dance Group (Nisga’a)
9:00 pm – Hoobiyee Grand Finale and Exit

Hoobiyee Video

The following video is from Hoobiyee at the PNE Forum in February of 2018. As you can see from the video, 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.