The asteroid is named for Keish, also known as Skookum Jim Mason, a Tagish adventurer and prospector who was among the party that found gold at the discovery claim kicking off the Klondike Gold Rush.
After it was first spotted, the asteroid was checked against a catalogue kept by the Minor Planet Center in order to ensure it had not been named before.
For Yukoners interested in what is going on beyond Earth’s atmosphere, Van Laerhoven the local astronomical society are in the midst of a beginner-level astronomy 101 lecture series for society members and donors.