Hobiyee, also spelled Hoobiyee, Hobiyee, Hobiiyee and Hoobiiyee, is the Nisg̱a'a new year celebrated every February / March. It signifies the emergence of the first crescent moon and begins the month Buxw-laḵs. Celebrations of Hobiyee are done by Nisg̱a'a wherever they are located, but the largest celebrations are in Nisg̱a'a itself and in areas with a large Nisg̱a'a presence like Vancouver.
Etymology
Hobiyee comes from the phrase "Hobixis hee!" meaning the "moon is in the shape of the hoobix." The hoobix is the bowl of the Nisg̱a'a wooden spoon. Hobiyee thus signifies the potential for an abundant harvest if the crescent moon's edges point upward.
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 saak in the rivers, the first food supply to arrive when winter resources were depleted. 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 starsaround 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
Observance
The Simgigat were responsible for the proper management of resources on their lands as well as studying astrology. An adept Sim’oogit would be able to practise the Halayt discipline which allows them to become a Swan̓iskw or Swan̓isgwit meaning spiritual leader, medicine person or doctor. Some were considered able "to forecast the weather" and called Guxw-Hloḵsit. A Swan̓iskw would study the moon in Buxw-laḵs to determine when the harvest would begin in Ḵ'alii-Aksim Lisims. Grandfathers would keep an eye on the moon, and upon seeing the hoobiyee moon, they would run into the village yelling, "Hobiyee! Hobiyee!" followed by children raising their arms in the shape of the hobiyee moon. The 2017 date of the observance is February 14–15.
