Hobiyee

At the end of February when the new moon appears, the Nisga'a celebrate Hobiyee, Nisga'a new year. This year the village of Gingolx hosted the event in their new hall. It's a massive event with over 1000 attendees and several cultural dancers from all over the Nass Valley, Terrace, and Prince Rupert, and the traditional territory. The moon plays a large significance to the new year celebration, as it gives a prediction of what is to come in the new year. An ideal moon, would have the right curve that is in the shape of a Nisga'a spoon. This shape is also similar to the white part of a finger nail. The shape of the moon will tell if it will be a good year for oolichan, berries, and salmon. Oolichan, also known as a candlefish are a staple if Nisga'a diet and have been a trade item for centuries. The narrow 6 inch fish is known for it's oil. It is said that when an oolichan is dried out, there is enough oil in it to put a wick in and use it as a candle. The oolichan has been traditionally traded along the "Grease trail" to Alaska to California. The oolichan run in the Nass and Skeen River in March and can be seen throughout the village drying in the sun and in smoke house. Berries have also been a staple to the diet of the Nisga'a people. There is blackberries, wild blueberries, saskatoon berries, and many other berries that grow up here. In the late spring to fall the salmon come up the Nass. I have been eating lots of smoked and jarred sockeye salmon since I got up here. The Hobiyee celebration is the biggest celebration up and includes 2 days of cultural dancing and feasting. I was TOCing in the village that was hosting, so I got the opportunity to watch my school perform their cultural dance and watch the Prince Rupert dance, which is known to be the best in the traditional territory. The Nisga'a school district has been trying to have the day made a holiday up here as attendance is very low in schools (3 of my students came to school) and teachers and supporting staff have a role to play in the festivities.