YUKON TERRITORY
- ORIGIN OF NAME: The name Yukon was first used by the Hudson's Bay Company trader John Bell in 1846. He called it "Yucon," derived from the Loucheux Indian word Yuchoo, meaning "the greatest river."
- ORGANIZED: 13 June 1898.
- CAPITAL: Whitehorse
- COAT OF ARMS: The blue and white wavy vertical stripes symbolize the Yukon River, while the twin red peaks represent the mountains and the gold circles stand for the mineral wealth of the territory. The red Cross of St. George honors the early British explorers and traders; the patterned circle centered on the cross represents fur trading. The crest is topped by a black and white malamute dog, which played an important role in the early history and development of the Yukon.
- FLAG: Is divided into three panels: green at the mast (symbolizing forests), white in the center (representing snow), and blue at the fly (signifying water). On the white panel (which is 50 percent wider than the other two panels) the territorial coat of arms appears above a wreath of fireweed.
- FLORAL EMBLEM: Fireweed.
- TARTAN: Green, dark blue, magenta, yellow, and white on a light blue background.
- TERRITORIAL BIRD: Common raven.
- TIME: 4 AM PST = noon GMT.
Source Database: Junior Worldmark Encyclopedia of Canadian Provinces
Table of Contents
AGRICULTURE | ARTS | CLIMATE
| COMMERCE | COMMUNICATIONS | DOMESTICATED ANIMALS | ECONOMY | EDUCATION | ENERGY AND POWER | ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION | ETHNIC
GROUPS | FAMOUS YUKONERS | FISHING
| FORESTRY | FURTHER READINGS
| HEALTH | HISTORY | HOUSING
| INCOME | INDUSTRY | JUDICIAL SYSTEM | LABOR | LANGUAGES | LIBRARIES AND MUSEUMS
| LOCAL GOVERNMENT | LOCATION
AND SIZE | MIGRATION | MINING | PLANTS AND ANIMALS | POLITICAL
PARTIES | POPULATION | PRESS | PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT | PUBLIC
FINANCE | RELIGIONS | SOURCE
CITATION | SPORTS | TAXATION | TOPOGRAPHY | TOURISM,
TRAVEL, AND RECREATION | TRANSPORTATION | VIEW MULTIMEDIA FILE(S)
The Yukon Territory in Canada's northwest covers 186,660 square miles (483,450 square kilometers). The perimeters of this mountainous territory form a rough triangle bordered on the east by the Northwest Territories, on the south by British Columbia, and on the west by the US state of Alaska. The northern tip of the triangle meets the chilly waters of the Beaufort Sea. Mount Logan, Canada's highest peak (and North America's second-highest) at 19,537 feet (5,951 meters), is located in southwestern Yukon.
The Yukon can be divided into two broad geographical regions: taiga and tundra. Taiga is the boreal forest belt (typified by stands of pine, aspen, poplar, and birch trees) that circles the world in the subarctic zone, including most of the Yukon. Tundra is the vast, rocky plain in the arctic regions, where the extreme climate has stunted vegetation. The Yukon River is the fifth-longest in North America.
The Yukon has a subarctic climate. The high altitude of much of the territory and the semiarid climate provide relatively warm summers with temperatures frequently reaching 77°F (25°C) or more during the long summer days. In winter the temperature ranges between 39°F and -58°F (4°C and -50°C) in the south and slightly colder farther north. The warmest recorded temperature in the Yukon was 97°F (36.1°C) on 14 June 1969 at Mayo; the coldest was -81°F (-63°C) on 3 February 1947 at Snag. Above the Arctic Circle (latitude 66 north), the Yukon is known as "the land of the midnight sun" because for three months in summer, sunlight is almost continuous. In winter, however, darkness sets in, and the light of day is not seen for a quarter of the year.
The Yukon's mountains are home to woodland caribou, lynxes, black bears, and Dall's sheep. Moose, gray wolves, golden eagles, and gyrfalcons also inhabit the Yukon. The short growing season produces an explosion of small wildflowers every year. Edible vegetation includes wild raspberries and strawberries, mossberries, and dewberries.
The Yukon has 26 solid waste disposal sites; total solid waste generation annually amounts to 7,000 tons, or 0.23 tons per person. Releases of nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide (gases that cause smog) annually total 17,000 tons, while emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide compounds annually amount to 2,000 tons. About 3.2 percent of the territorial budget is spent on maintaining environmental and natural resources.
The first modern European visitors were Russian explorers who traveled along the coast in the 18th century and traded with the area's Indians. Sir John Franklin, an English explorer, anchored off the Yukon's arctic coastline in 1825, and the Hudson's Bay Company moved into the interior in the 1840s.
American traders arrived after the 1867 Russian sale of Alaska to the United States. With the discovery of gold near Dawson City in 1896, the Klondike became one of the most populous regions in northwestern Canada. The sudden increase in population during the Klondike gold rush prompted the federal government to give the Yukon more control over its affairs. In 1898, the Yukon Territory was officially established to ensure Canadian jurisdiction; the Yukon Act provided for a commissioner and an elected legislative assembly.
EARLY 20TH CENTURY
During World War I (1914-18), Canada lost more than 68,000 soldiers. Returning veterans faced a bleak future of scarce low-paying jobs, while tariffs on imports kept prices for consumer goods high. During the 1920s, however, Canada experienced a period of rapid growth in industry. Transportation improvements--railways and roads--enabled businesses to flourish. Automobiles, telephones, electrical appliances, and other consumer goods became more widely available.
Just as in the United States, all of Canada suffered during the Great Depression. In addition to the problems with grain prices during the early 1920s, droughts and frequent crop failures devastated the national economy, which still relied heavily on agriculture. Social welfare programs rapidly expanded during the 1930s, with much of the burden placed on the provincial and municipal governments.
1940S-1990S
Following World War II (1939-45), consumer spending and immigration to Canada rapidly increased. Urbanization spread quickly by means of the National Housing Act, which made home ownership more easily available. Unemployment insurance and other social welfare programs were also created following the war. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Louis St. Laurent, old age pensions were increased in 1951 and a national hospital insurance plan was introduced in 1957.
The 1970s saw the emergence of negotiations over Aboriginal land claims. In 1993, the Council for Yukon Indians, the government of Canada, and the Yukon territorial government signed an Umbrella Final Agreement which set out the terms for final land claim settlements in the Territory. Final land claim agreements were also reached with the Vuntut Gwich'in First Nation, the Champagne and Aishihik First Nation, the Teslin Tlingit Council, and the First Nation of Nacho Nyak Dun. These agreements will help establish definitive land titles and provide such benefits as cash, land, and participation in wildlife and other management boards. In addition to their land claim settlements, the four First Nations also negotiated self-government agreements which give them more control over land use on settlement lands and greater authority in such areas as language, health care, social services, and education.
In 1993, the Canada-Yukon Oil and Gas Accord was signed, which will lead to the transfer of authority and control over onshore oil and gas resources from the federal to the Yukon government. The agreement provides a commitment to negotiate shared management of oil and gas resources in the Beaufort Sea and ensures that the Yukon is a beneficiary of onshore and offshore oil and gas revenues. Other agreements have been signed for transfer of authority and control in forestry, fishery, and transportation.
The Yukon was the first area in Canada to be settled by people. Anthropologists believe the ancestors of the Amerindians may have inhabited the Yukon 10,000 to 25,000 years ago when they migrated from Asia across a Bering Sea land bridge. American traders arrived after the 1867 Russian sale of Alaska to the United States. With the discovery of gold near Dawson City in 1896, the Klondike became one of the most populous regions in northwestern Canada. The gold rush of 1897 saw more than 30,000 people from the lower parts of Canada migrate to the Yukon and the Northwest Territories within one year. The sudden increase in population during the Klondike gold rush prompted the federal government to give the Yukon more control over its affairs.
In 1996, 22.4 percent of the 3,195 immigrants living in the Yukon had come from the United States, 20.8 percent from the United Kingdom, 12.4 percent from Germany, and 5.3 percent from Vietnam. Of the 360 recent immigrants who came to the territory during 1991-96, 18.1 percent were from Vietnam, 15.3 percent were from the United States, 15.3 percent were from the Philippines, and 12.5 percent were from Germany.
In 1996, 1.3 percent of the Yukon's residents age 5 and older had lived abroad in 1991. Some 6.5 percent had lived elsewhere in the Yukon, while 21 percent had lived in another province five years earlier. British Columbia is the leading province of origin for incoming residents and the leading province of destination for those leaving the territory for other parts of the country.
In both the Yukon and the Northwest Territories, political power rests with elected representatives. Although a federally-appointed commissioner is technically in charge of the administration, the role of that office has diminished and generally follows the lead of the elected territorial government. A 16-seat assembly serves as the legislative body, operating under the political party system. The territorial government leader is the leader of the majority party of the assembly's elected representatives. An executive council, which operates much like a provincial cabinet, consists of appointees of the commissioner who were recommended by the government leader.
As a territory, the Yukon does not have full provincial status, although it achieved a style of government similar to that of the provinces in 1979.
To meet municipal incorporation requirements, a village must have 300-1,000 residents; a town, 500-3,000 inhabitants; and a city, more than 2,500 residents. There is no minimum population requirement to incorporate a hamlet. Whitehorse is the only city; Dawson City, Faro, and Watson Lake are towns; Haines Junction, Mayo, Teslin, and Carmacks are villages.
The Canadian Constitution grants territorial and provincial jurisdiction over the administration of justice, and allows each territory and province to organize its own court system and police forces. The federal government has exclusive domain over cases involving trade and commerce, banking, bankruptcy, and criminal law. The Federal Court of Canada has both trial and appellate divisions for federal cases. The nine-judge Supreme Court of Canada is an appellate court that determines the constitutionality of both federal and territorial statutes. The Tax Court of Canada hears appeals of taxpayers against assessments by Revenue Canada.
The annual number of homicides varies but usually ranges from zero to six. Because of the small population, the Yukon sometimes has one of the highest crime rates in Canada. The crime rate in 1996 was 3,175 per 100,000 people for violent crimes, and 8,302 per 100,000 people for property crimes.
The territorial Department of Education oversees a small system of volunteer and community libraries, with branches in Carcross, Carmacks, Dawson City, Faro, Haines Junction, Mayo, Ross River, Teslin, Watson Lake, and Whitehorse. The Dawson City Museum and the MacBride Museum (located in Whitehorse) are two of the territory's larger historical museums. The Kluane Museum of Natural History (located in Burwash Landing) displays wildlife and native handicrafts.
As of 1999, standings in the Yukon Legislative Assembly by political party were as follows: New Democratic Party, 11; Yukon Party, 3; and Liberal Party, 1.
Tourism, offering a wilderness experience in a unique and relatively unspoiled environment, provides a further base for jobs and services.
Some 20 percent of the population are Aboriginals ( Native Peoples). The Yukon's vast interior forests were occupied by the Athapaskans, whose cultural and linguistic traditions go back more than 1,000 years. Today, there are six distinct groups of Athapaskan Indians: Kutchin, Han, Tutchone, Inland Tlingit, Kaska, and Tagish.
In 1996, English was reported as the mother tongue of 86.2 percent of the Yukon's residents, while 3.6 percent declared French as their first language and 8.8 percent had other first languages (mostly Athapaskan dialects).
Over 40 percent of the population--or about 12,000 people--are Protestant, including 4,100 Anglicans, 2,400 members of the United Church of Canada, 1,000 Baptists, 650 Lutherans, 600 Pentecostals, and 350 Presbyterians. The Yukon also has about 5,600 Catholics. There are less than 100 people each of the following: Eastern Orthodox, Jews, Moslems, Buddhists, Sikhs, and Hindus. About 35.2 percent of the population--nearly 9,800 people--has no religious affiliation, the highest such rate in Canada.
During World War II (1939-45), the United States built the Alaska Highway, creating a new overland transportation route. The Alaska Highway traverses southern Yukon and links Watson Lake with Whitehorse before continuing on to Alaska. In 1979, the Canadian government opened the Dempster Highway, Canada's first all-weather road to cross the Arctic Circle. The paved Klondike Highway links Dawson with Whitehorse and is the primary north-south road. In 1995, the Yukon had 3,149 miles (5,068 kilometers) of roads, with 92.6 percent under territorial administration, 5.5 percent under municipal control, and 1.9 percent under federal control. In 1996, the Yukon had 33,005 registered motor vehicles and 20,353 licensed drivers.
Martha Louise Black (1866-1957) was the Yukon's first, and Canada's second, female Member of Parliament. Popular historian Pierre Berton (b.1920) is a native of Whitehorse.
All 29 elementary and secondary schools in the Yukon are public; enrollment in 1995 was 5,700. Postsecondary community college enrollment in 1996/97 was 272 full-time and 382 part-time students. The only postsecondary institution in the territory is Yukon College, with 15 community campuses across the territory.
In 1998 there were 455 live births in the Yukon, for a rate of 14.4 per 1,000 residents. The death rate in 1998 was 4.3 per 1,000 residents (the lowest in Canada), with 135 deaths occurring that year. Reported cases of selected diseases in 1996 included chicken pox, 96; gonococcal infections, 10; giardiasis, 22; and salmonellosis, 8. There were no new AIDS cases reported in 1996. Between 1985 and 1998, 24 people in the Yukon became infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.
The Yukon had 18,994 occupied private dwellings in 1996, up 15 percent from 1991. There were 11,465 private households in 1996, with an average size of 2.6 persons. Single family detached housing accommodated 64 percent of all households in the Yukon. In 1995, 83 percent of the 527 residential construction permits were issued for Whitehorse.
The median monthly rent for an apartment in Whitehorse was C$650 in 1995. That year, the median rent for Watson Lake was C$565, and C$400 for Haines Junction. As of March 1996, Whitehorse had 904 apartments, of which 90 were vacant. The average selling price of a house in Whitehorse was C$148,500 in early 1996.
As of 1998, an estimated 31,600 people lived in the Yukon; only Nunavut had a smaller population. Whitehorse, Yukon's capital city, had a population of 21,808 in 1996. Major towns include Dawson City, population 1,999; Watson Lake, 1,794; and Faro, 1,134.
In 1990/91, the Yukon's performing arts company gave 50 performances before a total attendance of 5,000.
As of 1998, the Yukon had 3 radio stations (2 AM, 1 FM) and one television station.
The only daily newspaper published in the territory is The Whitehorse Star.
Local sporting organizations (for such sports as badminton, basketball, track and field, and volleyball) are popular in the territory, as are canoeing and kayaking.
Agriculture--expensive by North American standards--is a small but expanding industry. Although growth of the agricultural industry is limited by climate and the availability of productive land, new research programs hold promise for the future.
The fur trade is important for about 3 percent of the population, mainly Aboriginal. In 1994, fur production had a value of C$295,365.
In 1995, electricity generated totaled 387 million kilowatt hours.
A small fishing industry operates in Dawson City to export salmon. Other commercial fisheries supply local consumers.
In 1998, 7,201 residents and 8,026 non-residents had Yukon sport fishing licenses.
About 57 percent of the total land area is covered by forests. The federal government owns all the forest land. To reduce reliance on the mining, tourism, and governmental sectors, efforts have been made to promote the forest industry. The total timber harvest in 1996 was 13.4 million cubic feet (380,000 cubic meters). The value of forest product exports in 1997 was C$2.4 million, 87 percent of it softwood lumber.
The principal minerals and metals produced in the Yukon are gold, lead, zinc, silver, and sand and gravel. Gold was discovered in 1896 in the Klondike district. Mining, the Yukon's largest industry, accounts for more than 30 percent of the economy. The total value of production in 1997 was C$230.8 million, with metals accounting for 89 percent. Gold accounted for 49 percent of the value of the Yukon's nonfuel mineral production, zinc for 34 percent, and lead for 11 percent.
Production in 1997 included 38,734 tons of zinc, 26,810 tons of lead, 38 tons of silver, and 6.8 million grams (about 219,300 troy ounces) of gold. In 1997, the Yukon yielded 4 percent of Canada's gold, principally from mining near Dawson City.
In 1996, total trade amounted to more than C$1.29 billion, or C$41,018 per capita (per person). That year, 59 percent of trade was with other provinces and 41 percent was international. The Yukon's trade balance in 1996 had a deficit of C$194.1 million.
Retail sales in 1995 amounted to C$222.2 million. Retail sales in the Yukon follow a trend with higher sales during the summer months and lower sales in the winter. December is an exception, with high retail sales during the Christmas season. The largest retail sectors in 1995 were supermarkets and grocery stores, accounting for C$70.9 million in sales; recreational and motor vehicles, C$30.8 million; and other semi-durable goods, C$12.9 million.
The gold rush of the 1890s quickly transformed the Yukon into a market-oriented economy. Gold is no longer the only natural resource sought. In fact, mining for other metals has become the most important economic activity in the territory. Tourism and hydroelectricity are also important economic sectors. In 1997, the Yukon's gross domestic product (GDP) totaled C$1.13 billion, or 0.1 percent of the Canadian GDP.
The fiscal year extends from 1 April to 31 March. For fiscal year 1997/98, total revenues were C$462 million, with about 80 percent coming from the government of Canada. Expenditures were C$463 million. Major expenditure areas were health and social services, education, community transportation services, justice, government services, and renewable resources.
In 1996, personal disposable income in the the Yukon Territory was C$20,774 per person. Average family income in 1995 was C$61,807.
Industry in the Yukon is reliant on the processing of raw materials. Food products, wood, printing and publishing, nonmetallic mineral products, and chemical and chemical products are important manufacturing sectors. In 1997, the value of manufactured shipments for the Yukon Territory was C$17.7 million.
In 1996, the Yukon had about 18,900 persons in the labor force. That year, 81.4 percent of residents 15 years and older were in the labor force, giving the territory the highest participation rate in Canada. The overall unemployment rate in 1996 was 11 percent. That year, the services sector accounted for 34.6 percent of the total employment; construction, 7.8 percent; manufacturing, 1.6 percent; transportation, storage, communications, and utilities, 9 percent; trade, 13 percent; public administration, 20.8 percent; and other sectors, 13.2 percent.
The basic personal income tax rate for Yukoners is 17.2 percent on the first C$20,000 of taxable income. The tax rate progressively becomes higher and is 35.5 percent for C$100,000. In 1996, 14,720 Yukoners filed taxable returns.
| Canada Tourism Commission. Canada. [Online] http://206.191.33.50/tourism/ |
| Government of Yukon Home Page. [Online] http://www.gov.yk.ca/ |
| Tour Yukon-Tourism Yukon"s Adventure Travel Guide. [Online] http://www.touryukon.com/ |
| World Travel Guide. Canada. [Online] http://www.wtgonline.com/country/ca/index.html |
Source Citation: "YUKON TERRITORY." Junior Worldmark Encyclopedia of the Canadian Provinces, 2nd ed. U*X*L, 1999. Reproduced in Discovering Collection. Farmington Hills, Mich.: Gale Group. October, 2001. http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/DC/