"Stake your claim"

What's the origin to "To stake one's claim"?
I've heard people use this phrase whenever something
which is rightfully yours is for the taking or threatened.

Having watched a documentary on t.v. last night.....would submit it is connected to the gold rushes in Alaska and California. Miner's staked their claims in order to mine the gold on a particular piece of ground. The claim was registered and gave them rightful ownership to all minerals found thereon.