Mason, James 'Skookum' Jim (Kèsh) National Historic Person
Carcross, Yukon Territory
James 'Skookum' Jim (Kèsh) Mason, 1898
© Int. Havester / Library and Archives Canada | Bibliothèque et Archives Canada / C-025640
Address :
Carcross, Yukon Territory
Recognition Statute:
Historic Sites and Monuments Act (R.S.C., 1985, c. H-4)
Designation Date:
1994-06-05
Life Date:
1860 to 1916
Other Name(s):
-
Mason, James 'Skookum' Jim (Kèsh)
(Designation Name)
Research Report Number:
1971-027, 1994-026
Importance:
Discoverer of first major Yukon gold fields
Plaque(s)
Existing plaque: Carcross Visitor Information Centre, Carcross, Yukon Territory
"Skookum" Jim, a Tagish of the Dakhlawèdí clan and the Wolf moiety, found a nugget on Rabbit (Bonanza) Creek in August 1896 that began the Klondike Gold Rush and changed the history of the Yukon. He made the discovery while on a journey down the Yukon River to find his sister Kate and her husband George Carmack. Renowned for his legendary exploits and physical abilities, "Skookum" (strong) Jim believed his Frog Spirit had guided him to the gold. He became very rich but remained a generous man who never forgot his obligations to his community.