Claudia Thomas died in a house fire on Saulteaux First Nation on Nov. 17. (battlefordsNOW /Obituaries)

By Angela Brown

Community loss

Devoted mother of seven dies in Saulteaux house fire

Nov 26, 2021 | 3:30 PM

The Saulteaux community is coming together to help a young family after a mother of seven children died in a house fire at the First Nation.

Early in the evening of Nov. 17, a fire broke out at the family’s home. All seven children managed to escape, but their mother, Claudia Thomas, 39, didn’t survive.

Saulteaux First Nation is helping fundraise for the children, who range in age from three to 15.

The children are currently in the care of their grandmother, Pauline Thomas.

The band office is accepting donations to help the children. People can contact the band office directly and speak with Sally Moccasin or Amanda Sanderson. They can also email Sanderson at: amandashbapparel@gmail.com.

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“It is heart breaking that her [Claudia’s] seven children just lost their mom who was the main provider,” Sanderson said on her Facebook page. “She was a momma bear who loved all her children. These poor babies just lost their mom right before Christmas.”

Saulteaux Chief Kenny Moccasin said the loss of Claudia, a loving mother, is a tragedy for the community.

“It’s a pretty sad situation,” he told battlefordsNOW. “It was a difficult situation. We had the fire take the life away from a band member who had seven children.”

The Saulteaux volunteer fire department, with support from the Meota fire department helped put out the blaze on the night of the fire.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation and is believed to be accidental in nature.

Moccasin thanked the firefighters for their bravery in entering the smoke-filled house and extinguishing the fire. The home incurred a great deal of damage from the blaze.

The mom and her children were home at the time of the fire. Moccasin said her oldest son tried to save the mother by breaking a window but wasn’t successful.

Chief Moccasin describes Claudia as a kind woman who was very caring.

“She really loved her children,” he said, adding she was also pregnant with another child on the way.

He mentioned Claudia was also taking a carpentry training course last year, and had plans to pursue a career in the field in the future.

A number of organizations have reached out to the First Nation to offer support for the family. Some of those who are making donations include Battlefords Agency Tribal Chiefs Inc. and the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations. Serafina Energy Ltd. also stepped up with a donation of $10,000 to assist the family.

Funds will help with the purchase of clothing and furniture for the family. There is also a fundraiser underway to purchase some Christmas presents for the children. Funds left over will help with a savings account for the seven children.

Moccasin said additional mental health support has been provided for the family and First Nation community at this time.

“We’re a small community,” he said. “It impacts everybody in the community… It’s a difficult time coming up to the Christmas holidays. As a leadership, we are there to best support the family.”

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Angela.Brown@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow