People & Culture
Population
The population of Yukon is small. As of December 2007, the total population of the
Territory was 32,714. Of these, 24,473 live in Whitehorse, the capital city. 1,879
people live in Dawson City and 1,596 people live in Watson Lake. The remainder of
the population lives in smaller communities around the Territory.
First Nation people are an important part of our
population. According to the
2006 Census, approximately 25% of Yukon people identified themselves as
being of Aboriginal origin. Yukon is also home to an active Francophone community
and members of many ethnic and cultural groups.
More population information:
Yukon Bureau of Statistics
- Demographic Statistics
Immigrants
According
to
CIC information (2006), about 65 immigrants have come to the Yukon in each of the
past three years. Most come to Whitehorse, with about ten each year in other Yukon
communities.
The
2006 Canada Census showed 3,005 Yukoners born outside of Canada, with 1,950
who immigrated before 1991 and 385 who immigrated between 2001 and 2006. In recent
years immigrants have come to Yukon from 19 different countries, with concentrations
of immigrants from the United States, UK, Germany, Philippines, Switzerland and
China.
Culture
Yukon boasts an active arts scene, far larger than
our population would suggest. The territory's premiere arts facility, the
Yukon Arts Centre regularly presents local and touring performers and presents
world-class gallery artists.
Each year, events like the Dawson City Music Festival
and the Yukon Storytelling Festival
bring national and international attention to the Territory, which is enlivened
by dozens of other art and cultural events, as well as galleries, workshops and
musical performances.
Sport
Most Yukoners have an active lifestyle and there are
many opportunities for outdoor and indoor sports activities year-round. Hiking,
boating, fishing and
skiing are popular and there are
many sport and athletic organizations.
In addition to neighborhood and local sports, there are also large sporting events
held here. Whitehorse was host to the 2007
Canada Winter Games and the Yukon Quest,
a thousand mile sled dog race, takes place each year.
History
Yukon has a rich and varied history:
remains of human habitation found near Old Crow appear to be the oldest in North
America. Yukon First Nations people had extensive trading networks long before the
area was explored by traders from the
Hudson's Bay Company in the 1800s. In 1898 Yukon became known around the
world for the Klondike Gold
Rush. Renowned authors
Robert Service (The Cremation of Sam McGhee) and
Jack London (Call of the Wild) both called Yukon home for
a time. Stenwheelers plied Yukon rivers and lakes and the famous
Alaska Highway was built across the Territory in 1942. Today, exhibits,
museums and historic sites and bring Yukon's colourful history to life for residents
and visitors.
More information:
Yukon Archives Online Exhibits
Yukon Archives Online Image Database
Yukon Historical & Museums Association
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