Hoobiyee!

On February 27, 2010 we were most fortunate to be invited to attend the Hoobiyee hosted by the Gitmaxmak'ay Nisga'a Dancers in Prince Rupert. The Hoobiyee is the Nisga'a New Year, celebrating the first oolichan coming back into the streams.




When we entered the Civic Centre that night it was like going back in time. Here we were in the midst of the people, dancing and drumming the ancient story. The whole community present, shaped and taught by the dance.

Mothers and grandmothers dance with infants, among swimmers, blue grouse and killer whale.

We were in Prince Rupert for the Native Ministries Theological Education Fair, organized by Ha'is Clare Hill from Hartley Bay. Keynote speaker was Martin Brokenleg from the Vancouver School of Theology. One of the goals of our gathering was to find ways to support spiritual leadership in the First Nations villages. This Hoobiyee was clear evidence of spiritual leadership.

Elders process through the dance, followed by small dancers

Hoobiyee comes from "hoobix" - the bowl of a Nisga'a wooden spoon. When the crescent moon is in the shape of a hoobix the seasons following will be plentiful, especially in oolichan, salmon, berries and various other resources. And so the Nisga'a say "Hoobiyee - the spoon is full!"

Dancing with the bowl of oolichan grease, the great trading commodity from coastal peoples. Oolichan, or candle fish, have large amounts of oil - an essential dietary need.

The New Moon of the Nisga'a New Year

Young girls do the dance of the swimmers.

Men and boys drumming.
The drum beat held us together as tho with one heartbeat.

Blue grouse dance

Grizzly and hamatsa

killer whale, wolf and small hamatsa

Hoobiyee!