June is National Indigenous History Month. To celebrate our accomplishments, CBC Indigenous is highlighting First Nations, Inuit and Métis trailblazers in law, medicine, science, sports — and beyond. A Tlingit woman had a pivotal role in starting the Klondike Gold Rush. But Shaaw Tláa, also known as Kate Carmack, has been overlooked in historical accounts compared to the men she helped keep alive, according to her relatives. Colleen James, Shaaw Tlaa's great-great-grand niece and member of the Carcross/Tagish First Nation in Yukon and the Daklaweidi Clan, called her a catalyst in the gold rush.
