Mason, James 'Skookum' Jim (Kèsh) National Historic Person

Carcross, Yukon Territory
Portrait of James 'Skookum' Jim (Kèsh) Mason © Int. Havester / Library and Archives Canada | Bibliothèque et Archives Canada / C-025640
James 'Skookum' Jim (Kèsh) Mason, 1898
© Int. Havester / Library and Archives Canada | Bibliothèque et Archives Canada / C-025640
Portrait of James 'Skookum' Jim (Kèsh) Mason © Int. Havester / Library and Archives Canada | Bibliothèque et Archives Canada / C-025640Skookum Jim, Yukon Pioneer © Canada. Dept. of Interior | Ministère de l'Intérieur / Library and Archives Canada / PA-044683
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.