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Mr. Paul is scheduled to appear in court in Cochrane on an assault charge and in Glenevis, a hamlet in Lac Ste. Anne County, on a charge of assault and mischief to property in the new year.

He has no fixed address, said Supt. Steinke, adding the man was not a stranger to the girl.

“The relationship to the family is still under investigation,” he said.

The girl’s great-grandmother said the accused is known to the child and is a member of Paul Band.

“They called him Boss,” said one band member who spoke on condition of anonymity. “He would sing powwow, he would sing at most of the funerals and wakes around here.

“He was one of those kids who always wanted to go partying. When he would get drunk, he would black out.”

The girl’s great-grandmother said the entire band is supporting each other in dealing with the aftermath of the vicious assault.

“It’s so devastating,” she said. “I have no words for it. It killed our Christmas.”

When you’re in a community like this, you’re all family. We have to find healing, we have to find understanding

She said she saw the girl once in a while, but that she was being cared for by another family on the reserve.

Elder Kirby Bird said the band is angry, and called the attack an “awakening” for the community. He said the band is working with RCMP and are focusing on traditional customs to cope with the attack.

“Everyone should be there for our little ones,” he said. “When you’re in a community like this, you’re all family. We have to find healing, we have to find understanding.”

Because the child cannot be identified, Mr. Pospisil called her “Christmas Angel” and said a trust fund for her likely in the same name will be set up soon.

Offers of support for the family and the girl, everything from cash to teddy bears, have been coming in from across the country, Mr. Pospisil said. He received about 200 calls on Sunday night.

Postmedia News, with files from Karen Kleiss and Andrea Ross and The Canadian Press