125 years of the legendary Yukon Territory

Jack London's renowned land celebrates the anniversary of its union with Canada.

When we were children, our parents must have read stories by the famous writer Jack London. "The Red One," "The White Silence," "South Sea Tales" – what are the titles!

The late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries marked the unprecedented popularity of distant settlements on the North American continent. On August 16, 1896, three friends George, Jim, and Charlie discovered the first gold nugget. After that, the Yukon became the most attractive place for adventurers of all ages, and the Klondike became a household word.

American Jack London was among the seekers of wealth too and in his many stories and novels London describes the life of gold diggers, the challenges and dangers faced by new adventurers.

The territory of Yukon became part of the Canadian Confederation in 1898. At that time gold mining was already in full swing in the region. It was the sparks of the pickaxe that drew the world's attention to the underdeveloped land, and on June 13, 1898, on the eve of the new century, the Yukon became part of Canada, 28 years after the Northwest Territories.

But the Yukon gave Canada not only gold but also a wealth of aboriginal cultures in Canada. Today, there are 14 indigenous peoples and 8 different language groups in the Yukon Territory, and according to the 2021 Census, indigenous people make up 22.2% of the Territory's population.

Bordering Alaska, the Yukon is washed by the Arctic Ocean; its winters are long and harsh, testing the strength of anyone who dares to set foot in the far north. The region has a well-developed mining industry, and in addition to gold the soil contains zinc, silver and copper.

Yet Indigenous rights were not immediately important to Confederation. Back then, in the late nineteenth century, the fast-growing Canadian state was interested in what could bring in money and help development. Gold and other precious metals served this purpose perfectly.

It was not until 1993 to 2005 that 11 of the 14 indigenous peoples signed documents making land claims that gave the peoples control over land use. The documents also recognized the uniqueness of Indigenous Canadians and granted them state autonomy and the right to make their own decisions about language, health care, social services, and education.

Mecca of gold-diggers and the most attractive region

What everyone knows about the Canadian Yukon is the Gold Rush. From 1896 to 1899 more than 100,000 prospectors, as they are called, came to the region in an attempt to make a fortune. Only a few got rich; many parted with their lives in the harshest of natural conditions or as a result of conspiracies by more uncompromising prospectors.

Fur was the Yukon's main currency before the discovery of gold mines and it was by writers and filmmakers. Like cowboys in the Wild West, when former Europeans were just exploring the North American continent, gold diggers have also acquired the image of romantic and adventurous searchers, achieving success against all odds.

The Canadian authorities required those who went to the excavations to bring a year's supply of food to prevent starvation. Largely thanks to them, the distant lands grew with cities, saloons, and hotels; industrialists streamed into the region as desperately as gold seekers.

At the confluence of the Klondike and Yukon Rivers, the town of Dawson was founded. From 500 people in 1896, the town's population grew to about 30,000 by the summer of 1898. Built of wood, isolated and unsanitary, Dawson suffered from fires, high prices and epidemics. Despite this, the wealthiest prospectors spent lavishly, gambling and drinking in saloons. The native Hen people, on the other hand, suffered from those people; they were forcibly relocated to make way for the Klondikeers, and many of them died.

It wasn't until decades later that attitudes toward indigenous peoples began to change from using them as laborers to fully recognizing their rights and unique culture.

In 1899, when the twentieth century almost arrived, gold was discovered in Alaska, neighboring Yukon, and most of the unsuccessful miners left Canadian land and went there. The Klondike fever started to cool off.

Towns were losing inhabitants, and Dawson's population dwindled. Gold mining on the Klondike reached its peak in 1903, after heavier equipment was imported. Since then, mining has been constant on the territory of Klondike, and today this legacy attracts tourists to the region and contributes to its prosperity.

Modernity

Today the capital of the territory is the city of Whitehorse. The area is 483,000 km². It is larger than Great Britain, Germany or Sweden.

In anticipation of the anniversary celebration, the Yukon government has partnered with the Yukon History and Museums Association to establish the CAD 400,000 Yukon 125 Foundation.

The plan is to fund community projects that promote Yukon heritage, culture, and history. Funds will be allocated to each indigenous nation and municipal government, with a portion going to non-profit organizations.

What to Read

"In the beginning he was Christopher Bellew. By the time he was at college he had become Chris Bellew. Later, in the Bohemian crowd of San Francisco, he was called Kit Bellew. And in the end he was known by no other name than Smoke Bellew. And this history of the evolution of his name is the history of his evolution. Nor would it have happened had he not had a fond mother and an iron uncle, and had he not received a letter from Gillet Bellamy," so Jack London begins his novel "Smoke Bellew," after which released a sequel "Smoke and Shorty."

Also "Burning daylight," "White Fang", and The Call of the Wild" and other stories.

What to watch about the Yukon, Alaska, and Northern Natives

"Into the Wild," Sean Penn (2007)
The story of a real-life guy who gave up his usual human comforts for a life away from civilization, conditions and boundaries of society. A phenomenally inspiring film.
"Insomnia," Christopher Nolan (2002)
One of the early films of the author of "Interstellar" and "The Prestige" with titans of world cinema Al Pacino and Robin Williams.
"The Call of the Wild", with Harrison Ford (2020)
A romanticized adaptation of Jack London, starring Hollywood's favorite actor.
"White Fang" with Ethan Hawke (1991)
Also an adaptation of Jack London, successful and unobtrusive.
"On the edge," with Anthony Hopkins (1997)
A thriller with Anthony Hopkins in the vastness of Alaska.
"Windy River," Taylor Sheridan (2017)
The story of a crime on an Indian reservation. A very powerful drama.
"The Whaler Boy," Philip Yuryev (2020)
The story is about a guy from Yakutia who falls in love with a girl online and decides to sail to Alaska for her.
"Runaway Train," Andrei Konchalovsky (1985)
Andrei Konchalovsky's film of American period starring Julia Robert's brother and Angelina Jolie's father.
"Balto," Simon Wells (1997)
The story of a brave dog named Balto, produced by Steven Spielberg.
"Nanook of the North," Robert Flaherty (1922)
Great silent black-and-white film about Eskimos on the shores of Hudson Bay in Canada and the head of a family named Nanook. Not Alaska, but Canada!