GYPSUMVILLE, MB –

A community in Manitoba’s Interlake area is still in shock after RCMP identified the remains of a baby girl Friday.

Last June, human remains were found on a property just off Highway 6 in the RM of Grahamdale. Nearly five months later, the remains were identified as those of Xavia Skye Lynn Butler, who police said was between one and two years old when she died.

RCMP said her remains were found in a barn on the property.

The barn where Xavia was found was repainted a few weeks later, owner Natascha Kitschur told CTV News in an interview Saturday.

“It’s close to home,” Kitschur said. “It’s my garden, it’s my children’s garden. I have two children and I could never imagine one of them not being here today.

Kitschur said her husband’s family purchased the barn and surrounding land several decades ago from Xavia’s grandfather, Henry Rawluk. She confirmed that Rawluk still lived in the house on the neighboring property.

Human remains were found on a property just off Highway 6 in the RM of Grahamdale in June. (CTV News Winnipeg)

“I would say about two weeks after it all played out, the remains were found in our barn, we had a vigil,” Kitschur recalled. She said that after the vigil, she and her husband were approached by Xavia’s uncle, who asked them to do something with the barn to honor his niece.

“We decided to paint the barn orange in light of all the missing and murdered indigenous children around the world,” Kitschur said, adding that the words “Every Child Matters” were painted on the roof.

The barn where Xavia Butler’s remains were found was painted orange in tribute. (Alexandra Holyk/CTV News Winnipeg)

Xavia was a member of the Pinaymootang First Nation, located a few kilometers south of where her remains were found.

Even though her remains were found in June, Kitschur said the community continues to grieve.

“The community really feels it,” she said. “The Pinaymootang First Nation and all members of its community also feel this loss.

“We are on our knees wondering how such a beautiful soul could have disappeared, how someone who could not fight for himself was taken too soon,” Kitschur said.

Xavia Skye Lynn Butler is seen in an undated photo (Natalie Anderson)

Others said they still can’t believe what happened.

“It was shocking,” a neighbor said. “You would never think something like this could happen.”

RCMP are still investigating and are asking the public for help in establishing a timeline of Xavia’s life after March 2022. Anyone with information or photos is asked to contact RCMP Major Crime Services.

– With files from CTV’s Devon McKendrick and Charles Lefebvre