Aboriginal - Girls Action Foundation

was awarded 1993 Woman of the Year by the Carrier Sekani Tribal Council and she
is the subject of Terry Jacks’ film titled The Warmth of Love – the Four Seasons of
Sophie Thomas (2000), a documentary that was filmed at Stoney Creek on the Nechako
River (Hume 2000). The Nechako River has been faced with many environmental
challenges, including industrial damns and pollution, which is one of the key points that
Thomas addresses in her film. It is wonderful that Sophie Thomas is admired for her
accomplishments, as she was a remarkable woman in a number of ways.
Family was a very important aspect of Sophie’s life and her ideals have made her an
exceptional mother. She believed that “family is a place where goodness and strength
can begin... the older a person becomes, the larger his or her family becomes, in that his
or her duties as an elder will increase to include teaching and setting a role model for the
community”. Having shared a philosophy that every child is unique and special, Sophie
and her husband treated all children with respect and unconditional love. These beliefs
are mirrored by her role as a foster mother during the 1930s and 40s, when she cared for
seven children in addition to her twelve biological children (Young and Hawley 4). Sophie
Thomas had clear values regarding family, which illustrate that she has a sensitive and
compassionate disposition towards her loved ones and her community. These qualities
also attribute to her skills as a powerful healer.
With the aforementioned characteristics, as well as an extensive knowledge of medicinal
plant use, Sophie Thomas was a leading healer for many people, both Aboriginal and
non-Aboriginal individuals. While Ritch-Krc et al. note that “there are very few Carrier
elders in north central British Columbia who are knowledgeable about traditional
medicines” (1996). Sophie had a far-reaching comprehension of herbal medicines, which
she uses to save lives (Tarling 2000). Young and Hawley note “Sophie’s knowledge
of medicinal plants and medicines is part of a vast traditional knowledge about the
environment and its people, gathered over lifetimes... and enhanced by Sophie’s own life
experiences” (2). While this knowledge is customarily meant to remain within a family,
Sophie has modified these views by sharing it with others.
In addition to being an esteemed healer, Sophie Thomas was an exceptional teacher
and respected role model. She was heavily involved with passing her knowledge on to
Monique Auger
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