Kathleen (Martin) Cowaret

Miss Martin was a girl with adventure in her sole. She was born in Manitoba and trained as a teacher. In 1916 she applied to the Diocese of Yukon for a teaching position.  Bishop Stringer felt a single woman would not do well with the isolation and living conditions in some of the smaller Northern Communities and he tried to discourage her. However, Kathleen was persistent and was finally given a position at Fort Selkirk as a teacher and Lay Reader for the Anglican Church.

Her school was a small log cabin on the banks of the Yukon River and her students were First Nation children who traveled with their parents on the land, fishing along the river in summer and out on the traplines in winter. On their infrequent visits into Fort Selkirk to sell furs and replenish their supplies, it was Miss. Martin’s duty to entice the children into the school for a few days learning the three R’s. There was a family living up the Pelly River who sent two or three of their daughters down to live with her for the school year. Miss. Martin was up to the challenge and she took every opportunity to get the children into the school and helped them as much as she could to get the rudiments of an education. They were good students and she genuinely loved them, doing everything she possibly could to help. She was highly regarded by the parents and students.

It was here in Selkirk, Kathleen met her husband, Alex Coward. He was a trapper, wood contractor for the White Pass boats and builder of small river boats. Alex was a happy, kind man from the Southern US. He was always ready with a laugh, a diligent gardener and for some years the keeper of a small flock of hens.

They were married in Dawson City and from the beginning she refused to take the name Coward, as she did not like the connotation, preferring the more refined Cowaret! It was not an issue for Alex, but it did cause problems on legal documents and at election time when she had to register her vote.

Alex’s dog team was outstanding; they must have all been from the same litter as it was difficult to tell each dog apart. They were soft cream-colored huskies. A very well-behaved group of animals.

Alex could build anything. He constructed several large river boats with inboard engines, closed in with a small pilot house on top. The last one ended up as the first free running ferry at Dawson. It had a small barge that could take a car or two across for the new Top of the World Highway.

No nail, screw or any construction hardware was lost in Selkirk, Alex would always pick it up and find a home for it in his long, log workshop. Down on the upriver side of the H.B. Store dock and Warehouse, he had a big covered shed with a large forge at the end where he could make all the hardware needed for his boats.

When the contract for the local Post Office came up Mrs. Cowaret had the successful bid and, with Alex’ help, set up a very efficient Office in the front room of their home. Whenever the mail came in, either by steamboat in summer or airplane in winter, she would sort and then everyone could come and get their mail—all five families that were permanent residents. First Nations were usually away at Fish Camps or traplines and Mrs. Cowaret would store any mail they may have until they came back to town. To keep Postal Office status, there had to be a certain amount of stamp sales each year. So, to keep her numbers up she would give friends, both in Selkirk and Outside, stamp as Christmas gifts.

One Summer Mrs. Cowaret was asked by the Church to go to Teslin for the Summer. The minister was going to be away. While there she became the proud owner of a little Tahltan Bear Dog puppy. It was all white with black patches, and yes, its name was Patches. When she returned to Selkirk, Alex’s dog team did not like this new intrusion to their territory, and it must be said, Patches was not all sunshine and light. He was ready to take on all the team at the same time. He was not called a Bear Dog for nothing! So close supervision was needed on both sides. It must be said Patches died of old age.

When the Klondike Highway from Whitehorse to Dawson, opened in 1950, Selkirk closed and some residents moved up to Minto. The steamboats could not economically compete, and they were all put up on the slips in Whitehorse or Dawson. The loss of the summer boats meant a major loss to the river economy. No wood to cut, no resupply for the small trading posts, no need for the telegraph. The churches closed; trapping moved closer to the highway. So, with everyone else, the Cowards moved to Minto, 25 miles up stream from Selkirk. They moved into an old cabin and set up a small store to service the area. The First Nation Selkirk Band also moved up to Minto. Kathleen was very dedicated to the Band and was well respected by them. 

In 1958, Kathleen became ill and died that October in her home at Minto as were her wishes. She was in her seventy-first year and had lived and served the people of the Selkirk area for 41 years. She was deeply missed and well remembered even to this day.