Yukon who is who

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Billy Jack, Deté kyäk étó ábetin (1916 – 2004)

Billy Jack was born at Fort Selkirk to parents Copper and Jessie Jack of Chitina, Alaska and Fort Selkirk, Yukon. His grandfather was Old Andrew. In 1944 or 1945, Billy met Agnes Boss, daughter of Chief Jim Boss, and he moved to her home in the Whitehorse area. He was an exceptional bushman and was dubbed “the man with three hands” even though he only had one. When he cut wood for the river steamers he was able to cut and stockpile three cords a day using only an axe and a swede saw.((Bill Jack, celebration of life pamphlet.))

Billy was very religious. In 1942, he tobogganed from Lynx City on the Nisling River to help Father Hijbers build a church at Burwash Landing and he later helped Father Maussette build the church at Snag. He was the spokesperson for the Copper Jack family until he died at all cultural functions. He ensured that family followed spiritual laws and cultural rules.((Bill Jack, celebration of life pamphlet.))

One of Billy Jack's fondest memories was leading and participating in a Copper Chief reunion held at Copper Centre, Alaska. It was the first time T al Ti Cho’s descendants from Canada met their relatives in the Copper River region. Billy wealth was in the stories he told of his family, four generations deep. He passed down the stories and attended events to make sure they were told in the correct way.((Bill Jack, celebration of life pamphlet.))