Who is Mrs. Carpentier (Sarah) from Mrs. Mike the Story of Katherine Mary Flannigan and what is their importance?

Mrs. Carpentier (Sarah) is the full-blooded Cree Indian woman who is an experienced midwife that delivers both of Katherine's children. After Mary Aroon is born, Katherine asks Mrs. Carpentier if she can call her Sarah, reminiscent of the Sarah in the Bible, who was the mother to a race. Katherine thinks of Sarah as a fairy godmother even after visiting Sarah's dark and dusty workroom which looks and smells of decay.

Sarah has the physical and emotional strength of a mother which Katherine knows that she cannot ever be. When Larry, Sarah's son, is caught in the bear trap, Sarah proceeds to use a saw to cut off her son's leg, in order that he may survive. And he does.

Sarah remains friends with Katherine and she takes care of Mike when Katherine decides to go to Boston. Sarah asks Katherine to come back to Grouard after Boston, for she knows that Katherine is attempting to escape after the death of her children.