Jim Boss

Jim Boss (1871 – 17 January 1950) (also called Kashxoot, Kishwoot, meaning "pound the table with fist," and Hundealth ) was an entrepreneur and the chief of the Southern Tutchone Ta’an Kwäch’än for over 40 years. He is most known for having initiated the first Yukon land claim, in 1902. His leadership allowed the First Nations from the southern region of the Yukon to make the transition from a traditional way of life to a Euro-Canadian economy. In 2001, he was designated a Person of National Historic Significance.

Biography

Jim Boss was born to Mundessa (Old Man Chief) from Hutshi and Łande from Tagish. He had three sisters: Maggie Boss (Shuwateen), Jenny Boss (Tusáxal) and Susie Boss (Shaan Tlein). Jim boss also had a brother named Yandeyelh, no known English name.

His first job was to trade goods between the Coastal and Inland First Nations. During this time he also had a lumber and fishing operation, and owned the Takhini Hot Springs. In a letter to the Superintendent General of Indian Affairs, Boss demanded that Jackson write: "Tell the King very hard, we want something for our Indians because they take our land and game." In his petition he included an estimated census of various tribes. His total was 810, even though before the eight years of the gold rush, there had been several thousand natives.

By 1915, among the numerous businesses he ran during his life, he also operated one of the Yukon's fifteen fox fur farms. to commemorate Boss. At the event Chief Massie declared: