James “Skookum” Jim Mason

James “Skookum” Jim Mason, also known as Kesh, was a Tagish of the Dakhtawedi clan and the Wolf moiety who found a nugget on Rabbit (Bonanza) Creek in August 1898, beginning the Klondike Gold Rush and changing the history of the Yukon Territory. He made the discovery while traveling down the Yukon River to find his sister Kate and her husband George Carmack. Renowned for legendary exploits and physical abilities, “Skookum” Jim, whose name meant strong, believed his Frog Spirit had guided him to the gold. He became very rich but remained generous and never forgot his obligations to his community.

Yukon · Canada