It was the influx of people due to the gold rush and the U.S. purchase of neighbouring Alaska that pushed the Canadian government to establish control over the northern region on June 13, 1898.
Now, as the territory commemorates 125 years, residents want to push the narrative that the Yukon is more than just the Klondike Gold Rush.
Lorraine Netro is an elder from Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation in Old Crow 鈥� Yukon鈥檚 most northern community in the Arctic Circle with a population hovering around 220 people.
Although she is content that the territory is making headlines, she said there鈥檚 still a 鈥渕issing link鈥� between stories about people and places.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not all about the Gold Rush and the invasion of our traditional territories. It鈥檚 about us, as people in the Yukon and in Canada, and about what is truly important to us,鈥� she told CTVNews.ca on Wednesday.
Besides talking about the mineral findings of 125 years ago, Netro hopes Canadians across the country learn about self-governing First Nations in Yukon.
"We contribute to the economy and the well-being of this territory and in Canada, and we are not fully recognized for that," she said.
In fact, several Indigenous people had a key role in the territory鈥檚 boom.
Skookum Jim, also known as Jim Mason, was Tagish of the Dak l'a Weidi Clandis. He, and his crew, discovered gold in the Bonanza Creek in 1897, leading to the Klondike gold rush a year later.
Netro said when thinking about this year鈥檚 commemoration, she is trying to have a balanced approach.
鈥淓ven though we have a traumatic history that our people had to endure, and still do鈥� I celebrate today our young people and our up-and-coming leaders. They are culturally strong and they are taking back their language,鈥� she said.
鈥淚 hope my message comes across as, 鈥楬ey! There鈥檚 people that were here before settlers came and we have rich culture we can share.鈥欌��
Netro is not the only one hoping the 125-year commemoration raises awareness about the territory.
Murray Lundberg first stumbled upon the territory鈥檚 beautiful landscapes in 1985 on a 10-day trip. He immediately fell in love with the land and has been living in the territory since.
鈥淭he Yukon is one of those places that would be great if the rest of Canada could see,鈥� he told CTVNews.ca on Wednesday admitting he would like people to recognize the territory for more than just the Klondike Gold Rush.
Lundberg worked as a tour bus driver between Alaska and Yukon for 23 years and created the Facebook page to raise awareness about the territory鈥檚 history.
As an avid history fan, he is excited about the celebration, but said he is 鈥渟urprised how little publicity" it's getting.
鈥淚 thought there would be more broader celebrations, but that鈥檚 not what鈥檚 happening,鈥� he said.
To commemorate the 125 years, the Yukon Government opted for distributing funding for smaller, local community projects through the Yukon 125 fund, rather than doing big events.
Kwanlin DünFirst Nation Chief Sean Smith said he thinks this approach is a way for the territorial and federal government to decolonize celebrations.
鈥淚 think it gives some autonomy to communities for them to choose how they want to celebrate鈥� It means different things for different people,鈥� Smith told CTVNews.ca on Wednesday.
