Fire in Tataskweyak Cree Nation claims life of 25-year-old mother

A fire in Tataskweyak Cree Nation on Sunday claimed the life of a 25-year-old, who was a mother to one child.

"Her family is quite devastated right now," said Tataskweyak Cree Nation Chief Taralee Beardy.

"I'm with the grandfather," she said. "You know, he's in disbelief. He's still in shock."

Thompson rural RCMP received a report on the fire at around 11 p.m. on April 2, taking place at a home on Airport Road, according to a Monday news release. RCMP and the community fire department both responded to the fire. 

RCMP said the fire crew entered the house after the fire was extinguished to find the 25-year-old who had died.

Beardy said the house, which he estimated was over 40 years old, had wood panelling and burned quickly. 

The woman who died was a mother, Beardy said, and her loss is already felt throughout the community.

"There's no words to describe how we're feeling," she said. "It's a big huge loss."

The name of the victim was not released by RCMP or Beardy.

Fulfilling promises

Chief Beardy, in a release issued Monday, called again on the federal government to fulfil obligations in providing fire resources to the community following conversations that started after an apartment complex fire on Feb. 11 that left 49 people without homes.

While waiting for a response from Indigenous Services Canada, Tataskweyak Cree Nation purchased a fire truck to assist with local fires, a purchase that cost $91,000.

Even with the truck, fire crews have no official operations training for being able to attend fires with the vehicle.

"Our fire departments have no training on how to use it," said Beardy. "[They're] trying to self-teach themselves this past week, because we only got it one week ago."

Keewatin Tribal Council Grand Chief Walter Wastesicoot called the lack of response following the February fire appalling in the Monday release.

CBC reached out to Indigenous Services Canada and is waiting for a response.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation, and Beardy said the RCMP is waiting for the fire commissioner from Winnipeg to make their way to the community.

Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak Grand Chief Garrison Settee said that support teams are on the way to Tataskweyak Cree Nation to help with the loss, according to the release.

Tataskweyak Cree Nation is about 710 km north of Winnipeg, and about 120 km northeast of Thompson, Man.