Hobiyee Earrings

 Hobiyee is Nisga’a New Years. Hobiyee comes from the phrase “Hobixis hee!” meaning the “moon is in the shape of the hoobix.” The hoobix is the bowl of the Nisg̱aʼa wooden spoon. Hobiyee signifies the potential for an abundant harvest (or filled spoon) if the crescent moon’s edges point upward. When the moon is shaped like a wooden spoon and its position aligned with the brightest star it let people of the area know the harvest season arrived. The moon rising tells us that the eulachon has arrived. The first resource that comes back from the ocean and following that the moon calls all the different species of salmon to our land,”

Artist: Karen Francis