June 13: Yukon Becomes a Canadian Territory (1898)
Prayer Idea
Pray for the people and government of Yukon Territory.
History Note
Members of First Nations have lived in what is now northwestern Canada for centuries. These groups include the Gwichʼin, the Hän, the Kaska Dena, the Northern and Southern Tutchone, the Tagish, the Tlingit, and the Upper Tanana.
When Yukon became one of four districts in the Northwest Territories of Canada in 1895, the total population was likely less than 10,000. The next year people discovered gold on Bonanza Creek, a tributary of the Klondike River. This led to a huge influx over the next few years of perhaps 100,000 people seeking their fortune.
During this period, the citizens of Yukon petitioned the Canadian government to become a separate territory of Canada. This request was granted on June 13, 1898.
Most of the people who came to Yukon seeking gold left disappointed. By the 1920s, the population of the territory had dwindled to less than 5,000. The population grew slowly during the 20th century, but it has remained relatively small. Only about 45,000 people live there now.
Yukon is mostly wilderness. It contains some of Canada’s tallest mountains, including Mount Logan, which is the tallest at 19,551 feet. Because it is located so far north, parts of Yukon experience little sun during the winter and little night during the summer. Yukon is also a great place to see the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights).
Tombstone Territorial Park in Yukon Territory. Photo by Bronwyn Davies / Shutterstock.com.
Learn More
Get a bird's-eye view of Yukon Territory.
Find other resources at Homeschool History.
