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Laxgalts'ap hosts Hobiyee

All four Nass Valley villages have groups performing during the two-day event

Hobiyee celebrations return to Laxgalts’ap (Greenville) after five years of the event making the rounds through the Nisga’a communities who each took turns hosting it.

All four Nass Valley villages have groups performing during the two-day event and travelling into town for the event are groups from Prince Rupert, Vancouver, Terrace and Kitamaat.

That includes at least four schools, who will kick off the event at 10 a.m. Feb. 21: New Aiyansh Seniors Secondary, Gitwinksihlkw Elementary, Alvin A. McKay Middle School and Nathan Barton Elementary.

Different groups will take part during the day with a grand entry at 5 p.m. and the host Laxgalts’ap dancers closing off the first day at 10 p.m.

Gitsegukla starts the second day at 9 a.m. followed by Kitamaat “Kitlope”, then an as yet unnamed guest and followed by a salmon lunch.

After travelling groups from out of town perform and Terrace dancers, will be the smorgasbord dinner to provide fuel tor the final three groups and the grand finale at 9 p.m.

According to astronomy data, the last quarter of the moon is set to rise at 9:15 p.m. to start the new harvest season.

It’s believed the moon will indicate whether the year will be bountiful or not.

If the moon faces upwards, shaped like a bowl, the year will be plentiful.

If the moon faces down, the year is expected to not be plentiful – no fish or berries – and the people would start to prepare for tough months ahead.