I recently had the opportunity to read "Wealth Woman" by Deb Vanasse, a truly enjoyable experience. The fascinating story of Tagish wife of prospector George Carmack, Kate Carmack, is told in full here for the first time.T his tells the story of Wealth Woman, a powerful and influential Native American woman who uses her skills and knowledge to achieve success in both her personal and professional life.
One of the things that I loved most about "Wealth Woman" was the story of the Yukon Gold Rush.
The book explores themes of family, friendship, and personal growth in a way that is both thought-provoking and engaging.
Overall, I would highly recommend "Wealth Woman" to anyone who is looking for a strong and empowering read. Deb Vanasse is a talented author whose writing is sure to leave a lasting impression. I look forward to reading more of her work in the future.
ISBN 9781602232778

I found this book quite well-written as well as captivating. This is a well researched account of a very interesting and mysterious woman. Vanasse demonstrates a huge amount of respect for the Tagish and other First Nations encountered in the story, writing Kate as a capable woman who stayed true to her cultural and familial roots.

The story of the Klondike Gold Rush of 1897-98 begins with George Carmack’s discovery of gold, and in this thorough and painstakingly researched account we see events from the perspective of Carmack’s native wife Shaaw Tlaa, or Kate as she came to be known. The book is a vivid and fascinating account of life on the gold fields, of the winners and losers, and of the interaction between those seeking gold and the First Nation inhabitants of the Yukon who often served as a bridge between the two groups, and were often indeed key to the exploration of the area. Kate herself is a really interesting character, a strong and independent woman who had somehow to juggle her life between her native traditions and the modern world into which she was so precipitately thrust. We never get to hear her voice, as that is unfortunately missing from the record but Vanasse does an incredibly good job at providing some insight into her personality, and into her culture and traditional ways of thinking. The book is well-documented, with many useful notes, and contains some wonderful photos. Vanasse is to be congratulated in bringing this forgotten figure to the fore and in giving voice to a remarkably courageous woman, and to First Nation women in general. A must read for anyone interested in the history of the Yukon.

The story of this Native American woman's life is both complex and interesting. I wish that I'd been taught about this sort of history -- the individual stories make the larger picture clearer.