Yukon

The Atlas of Canada. [http://atlas.nrcan.gc.ca/site/index.html]

The Native People of the Yukon are part of the Athapaskan linguistic family. The first white explorer to reach the Yukon was Sir John Franklin in 1825. Thereafter, permanent contacts were maintained by Hudson's Bay Company fur traders. At the end of the nineteenth century, large numbers of white people immigrated here to prospect for gold, although they did not stay for long. In one month in 1898 though, Dawson became the largest Canadian city west of Winnipeg.

Researchers interested in ancestors who lived in the Yukon use the main types of genealogical sources.

The official provincial government Web site [www.gov.yk.ca/] contains useful information about the province and its historic records.

The Yukon Archives is the main repository of official records pertaining to the history of the Yukon. Particular attention should be paid to oral histories (sound recordings) and records dealing with the Aboriginal Peoples, the fur trade and the mining industry, which can be sources of genealogical information.

The Gold Rush Database [www.yukongenealogy.com/content/database_search.htm] provides information about people who stayed in the Yukon to prospect for gold.

The Yukon Archival Union List [www.whitehorse.microage.ca/yca/sections/yaul/yaul.html] gives you access to other important resources held in many archives.

Many libraries hold reference books, local histories, family histories and other books on genealogy. Library and Archives Canada allows you to Browse Lists of Canadian Library Web Sites and Catalogues by province.

Each province and territory has its own GenWeb [www.rootsweb.com/%7Ewebsites/international/canada.html] site where you can access many databases and obtain information on resources available in each province.

The Canadian Encyclopedia Online [www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/] allows you to learn more about the history, geography and people of Yukon.

The sections on Sources by Topic and Links of this site can provide more useful information about how to do genealogical research in Yukon. You can also access databases from our Directory of Canadian Genealogical Resources - AVITUS.