Tr'ondëk: An Indigenous History of the Klondike Gold Rush

The Klondike Gold Rush, considered one of the last great North American Gold Rushes, lasted from 1896 to 1899 and saw over 100,000 non-Native stampeders attempt to travel to the Yukon for riches. Through public memory, pop culture, and popular books, this rush is often romanticized and whitewashed to the extent that the Indigenous perspective is virtually never considered. The final deliverable of this capstone—a digital exhibit—prioritizes the Indigenous Klondike Gold Rush experience in an attempt to deromanticize an event that led to an unprecedented acceleration of the loss of traditional trades, homelands, and customs across the Yukon and Alaska territories. “Tr'ondëk: An Indigenous History of the Klondike Gold Rush” functions as a stepping stone in the direction of providing better Indigenous representation within Klondike Gold Rush history and public history. This exhibit is split into four main sections or themes with an additional section that provides context for those who are unfamiliar but interested in the topic. “What is the Klondike Gold Rush?” is first provided, then followed by the four themes: “Before the Gold Rush,” “Discovery on Chʼëchozhùʼ Ndëk,” “Jëje In Hǫ̀ląy—Lots of People,” and “Aftermath.” This source will always be free and publicly accessible. Potential budgets and recommendations are discussed in the instance of this project receiving any semblance of post-completion growth.