Who is Amalia in the novel, The Ceremony of Innocence?

Amalia, a French-Cree halfbreed, finds Amana begging at Fort Benton after the death of Far Away Son, when Amana is abandoned by her tribe. The two become "inseparables" until Amana falls in love with JeanPierre Bonneville. It is the hardened Amalia who understands the real JeanPierre and warns Amana not to go with him. But Amana sees in Bonneville a reason for living and goes with him, leaving Amalia behind. Later after Bonneville returns to his Canadian wife and children, Amalia rescues Amana and her daughter from starvation.