A man accused of committing 13 counts of indecent assault against children at the Beauval Indian Residential School has made his first court appearance.

It was under police escort that 70-year-old Paul Leroux was brought into the Catholic Church in Beauval today.

The church is serving as the local courthouse in the community.

Leroux did not have a lawyer with him so the matter of legal aid was discussed.

He requested a preliminary hearing, and a pre-trial hearing has been set for December 22nd in Beauval.

At that time, Leroux will appear by phone.

The alleged incidents are reported to have taken place between 1960 and 1967 when Leroux was a supervisor at the school.

About 60 people crowded into the room where he made his appearance.

One of them was FSIN vice-chief Dutch Lerat, who said he was both representing the federation and making a show of support to the people affected.