Hobiyee, also spelled Hoobiyee, Hobiyee, Hobiiyee and Hoobiiyee, is the
Nisg̱aʼa new year celebrated every February or March. It signifies the emergence of the first crescent moon and begins the month Buxw-laḵs.
Celebrations of Hobiyee are done by Nisg̱aʼa wherever they are located, but the largest celebrations are in Nisg̱aʼa itself and in areas with a large Nisg̱aʼa presence like
Vancouver
Vancouver ( ) is a major city in western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. As the List of cities in British Columbia, most populous city in the province, the 2021 Canadian census recorded 662,248 people in the ...
.
Etymology
Hobiyee comes from the phrase "" meaning the "moon is in the shape of the ." The is the bowl of the Nisg̱aʼa wooden spoon. Hobiyee thus signifies the potential for an abundant harvest (or filled spoon) if the crescent moon's edges point upward.
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Significance
At Hobiyee, if the crescent moon is seen with its edges pointing upward, it foretells an abundant year of salmon, oolichans (), berries and various other foods. The months Buxw-laḵs and X̱saak indicate the end of the winter and the emergence of oolichans in the rivers, the first food supply to arrive when winter resources were depleted ( means 'to blow about' and means 'needles'; means 'to eat oolichans').[
If a star is sitting in the centre of the crescent moon (""), it is a sign of abundance in Nisg̱a’a. Other positions of the stars around the moon have different interpretations. A sideways Hobiyee moon without a star sitting in it denotes a poor year of resources as was the case in 2006][
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Observance
The (Nisg̱aʼa chieftains) were responsible for the proper management of resources on their lands as well as studying astrology
Astrology is a range of Divination, divinatory practices, recognized as pseudoscientific since the 18th century, that claim to discern information about human affairs and terrestrial events by studying the apparent positions of Celestial o ...
. An adept would be able to practise the discipline which allows them to become a or meaning spiritual leader, medicine person or doctor. Some were considered able "to forecast the weather" and called (astronomer/astrologist). A would study the moon in Buxw-laḵs to determine when the harvest would begin in . Grandfathers would keep an eye on the moon, and upon seeing the Hobiyee moon, they would run into the village yelling, "" followed by children raising their arms in the shape of the Hobiyee moon.[
The 2017 date of the observance was February 14–15.]
References
External links
Nisg̱a’a Lisims Government
School District 92 (Nisga’a)
Gitmax̱mak’ay Nisga’a Prince Rupert/Port Edward Society
Ging̱olx website
Nisga’a People of the Rainbow
Nisgaʼa Museum
{{New Year by Calendar
February observances
Nass Country
North Coast of British Columbia
Observances on non-Gregorian calendars
New Year in Canada