Xavia Skye Lynn Butler: Manitoba Interlake community reflects on child’s death after RCMP identify remains

GYPSUMVILLE, MB –

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

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

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

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

“It’s close to home,” Kitschur said. “It’s my backyard, it’s my children’s yard. I have two children and I couldn’t imagine one of them not being here today.”

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

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

“I would say about two weeks after everything was fine, the remains were found in our barn and we had a vigil,” Kitschur recalled. She said that after the wake, she and her husband were approached by Xavia’s uncle, who asked if they wanted to do something with the barn in honor of 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 has been painted orange in tribute. (Alexandra Holyk/CTV News Winnipeg)

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

Although her remains were found in June, Kitschur said the community is still grieving.

“The community is definitely feeling it,” she said. “Pinaymootang First Nation and all its community members are also feeling the loss.

“We sit on our knees wondering how such a beautiful soul could just be gone, how someone who couldn’t 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,” said a neighbor. “You would never think something like this could happen.”

RCMP are still investigating and are asking the public to help build a timeline of Xavia’s life beyond 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