Manitoba, federal governments promise $20M each to search Prairie Green landfill for human remains
WARNING: This story contains distressing details about missing and murdered Indigenous women.
The federal and provincial governments have committed $20 million each toward searching the Prairie Green landfill for the remains of two Indigenous women.
“A lot of money has been spent to convince governments to do the right thing, and today, meeting with the federal government and provincial government, there was a commitment from them to search the landfills,” Grand Chief Cathy Merrick of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs said at a news conference Friday afternoon.
“Today’s a very bittersweet day. It’s a sense of relief, but yet work needs to be done.”
Spokespeople for both governments confirmed the funding Friday afternoon in separate emails, just before the start of the news conference with Merrick and Cambria Harris, the daughter of Morgan Harris. The remains of Harris and Marcedes Myran are believed to be in the landfill.
The provincial government also committed $500,000 to help the families during the trial of the man accused of killing them and two other women, while the federal government promised another $200,000 for the mental well-being of the families, Merrick said.
The families have accused the provincial government of delays and inaction since it promised during last fall’s election campaign that there would be a search of the landfill.
Cambria Harris said Friday that she’s grateful first to the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs for helping her, but also to the provincial and federal governments for agreeing to fund the search.
“It’s been a long road,” she said. “I pray that one day we will see justice.”
The search won’t start until after the trial of Jeremy Skibicki, who is charged with first-degree murder in the deaths of Harris, Myran, Rebecca Contois, whose partial remains were found in a different landfill, and an unidentified woman Indigenous leaders have named Buffalo Woman, whose remains have not been found.
Skibicki’s jury trial is scheduled for 28 days starting April 29.
While the trial is happening, preparations for the search can be made, including hiring and training staff, Merrick said.
An Indigenous-led committee commissioned two reports on the feasibility of a search, which has been estimated to cost $90 million if completed within a year.
Merrick said they asked whether they would have to return to ask for more money if the amount that’s committed is insufficient.
“We don’t want to go back and back again,” she said. “We want to see this work be completed. We want to ensure that we find the loved ones that have been there for 15 months now.”
Cambria Harris said Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew promised a thorough search would be done.
“Wab Kinew, in his words, said that we are going to search every cubic metre of Cell 13 [of the landfill] where my mother, Morgan and Marcedes are laying.”
Support is available for anyone affected by details of this case. If you require support, you can contact Ka Ni Kanichihk’s Medicine Bear Counselling, Support and Elder Services at 204-594-6500, ext. 102 or 104 (within Winnipeg), or 1-888-953-5264 (outside Winnipeg).
Support is also available via Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak’s Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Liaison unit at 1-800-442-0488 or 204-677-1648.
People outside Manitoba can call 1-844-413-6649, an independent, national, toll-free support call line that provides emotional assistance.
