A man has been arrested after a six-year-old girl was severely assaulted at a First Nation reserve in Alberta, police said.

RCMP were first called to a property on the Paul First Nation at approximately 4:30 p.m. on Saturday.

Stony Plain RCMP say they found the girl suffering from “critical” and “life-threatening” injuries.

She was transported via STARS Air Ambulance to the University of Alberta Hospital, where she is now believed to be in critical but stable condition.

Police describe the incident as a “serious assault,” but would not provide details on the girl’s injuries or the circumstances surrounding the attack.

A spokesperson for STARS said the girl’s injuries related to “blunt trauma.”

On Sunday, police arrested their sole suspect in connection with the incident. RCMP said they are not naming the suspect in order to protect the identity of the child.

Police say they expect to lay charges shortly.

Casey Bird, chief of the Paul First Nation, travelled to Edmonton to be with the girl’s family members at the hospital.

“We have come together as a community and support the family,” Bird told CTV Edmonton. “Wishing the family all the best and hopefully the child comes out of this.”

Paul First Nation reserve is located approximately 60 kilometres west of Edmonton.

With a report by CTV Edmonton’s Nicole Weisberg