A sacred fire burning in Winnipeg has brought healing and hope to some members of Xavia Skye Lynn Butler’s family.

“The last few days have been unreal,” Natalie Anderson said Monday. “Everything comes together, it gives me a lot of strength.”

Anderson told CTV News she had a private agreement with Xavia’s biological mother to raise the baby girl from birth, but at nine months old, Xavia was taken from Anderson. Butler’s biological family previously told CTV News they had no comment.

The little girl’s remains were found in a barn off Highway 6 near Gypsumville, Manitoba, in June. RCMP confirmed the remains belonged to Butler earlier this month and said his death was being investigated as a homicide.

On Friday, a fire was lit in Memorial Provincial Park by Anderson to send Xavia’s spirit on a bon voyage to her ancestors.

“I don’t want her to be stuck here, being an angry child because Xavia didn’t know what anger was,” Anderson said. “She never cried. She was always happy. I need her to remain my happy baby. His eyes still deserve to smile, his heart happy and his soul to dance.

Throughout the weekend, strangers and friends brought stuffed animals and other toys to add to a memorial for Xavia. Nadine Bone, who said she was Xavia’s Koo Koo, pointed out that many people brought monkeys, not knowing that Xavia’s nickname was “Chunky Monkey.”

“Xavia is here; “Xavia is giving us all the signs that she’s here to help us and everyone is coming,” Bone said.

A group of mourners stood around the fire Monday afternoon and sang one of Xavia’s favorite songs. As their voices echoed, a bird flew overhead. It was very high in the sky, but the singers believed that it was an eagle that was there to bring song and prayers to Xavia.

“Hey baby,” Anderson shouted to the sky, adding that she slept in a tent on site all weekend.

“What happened broke me as a woman and as a mother, but with all the support and the new sisters I created, they gave me a lot of strength,” he said. she declared.

The fire will last until Tuesday noon.

RCMP in Ashern for investigation

Meanwhile, RCMP officers in Manitoba were canvassing an Interlake community this weekend as part of an ongoing homicide investigation.

According to the RCMP, Major Crimes officers went door to door in Ashern, Manitoba, to see if anyone had more information about Butler’s death.

Ashern is located about 30 kilometers south of where Xavia’s remains were discovered.

Little information has been released about the final months of Xavia’s life, but RCMP have said investigators believe she was between one and two years old when she died.

RCMP officers are asking the public for photos or information that could verify Butler’s whereabouts after March 2022.

Anyone with information or photos to share is asked to call the RCMP Major Crime Services tip line at 431-489-8112.