Mashkode Bizhiki’ikwe now has a name: Ashlee Shingoose was Winnipeg serial killer’s 1st victim

**Warning: This article contains details of violence against Indigenous women.**

The Winnipeg police have confirmed that a woman from St. Theresa Point Anisininew Nation was the unidentified victim of Winnipeg serial killer Jeremy Skibicki. Ashlee Shingoose, known as Mashkode Bizhiki’ikwe or Buffalo Woman, was last seen in downtown Winnipeg in March 2022 at the age of 31. She was one of four Indigenous women murdered by Skibicki in 2022, along with Morgan Harris, Marcedes Myran, and Rebecca Contois.

The police have announced that a news conference will be held to confirm Shingoose’s identity. Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew, Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham, Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs Grand Chief Kyra Wilson, St. Theresa Point Anisininew Nation Chief Raymond Flett, and Chief Gene Bowers and Deputy Chief Cam Mackid of the Winnipeg Police Service are scheduled to speak at the conference. The update comes after the remains of Harris and Myran were found at Prairie Green landfill, north of Winnipeg.

There has been speculation about the location of Mashkode Bizhiki’ikwe’s remains, with some suggesting they may be at the Prairie Green landfill or the city-run Brady Road landfill in Winnipeg. Premier Wab Kinew stated that the decision regarding the future of the landfill search will be made in consultation with the families of Harris and Myran. The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs has pledged to push for a continued search to locate Mashkode Bizhiki’ikwe.

During Skibicki’s trial last summer, it was revealed that investigators found a DNA sample on a jacket believed to belong to Mashkode Bizhiki’ikwe. However, the sample was never matched to anyone. Skibicki confessed to killing the four women during a police interview in May 2022, stating that Mashkode Bizhiki’ikwe was his first victim. He described her as Indigenous, in her early 20s, with dark patches on her skin and an average build.

Skibicki admitted to meeting Mashkode Bizhiki’ikwe outside the Salvation Army shelter in Winnipeg when COVID-19 restrictions had just been lifted. He mentioned that he was under the influence of mushrooms and became upset with her after she attempted to steal from him. After killing her, he disposed of her remains in a dumpster behind a business on Henderson Highway.

The tragic details of Mashkode Bizhiki’ikwe’s murder shed light on the ongoing issue of missing and murdered Indigenous people. Support is available for those affected by these reports, including emotional assistance and crisis support through a national hotline. Health support services, mental health counseling, community-based support, and cultural services are also available through the government of Canada for those in need.

The harrowing story of Mashkode Bizhiki’ikwe and the other victims serves as a reminder of the importance of addressing violence against Indigenous women and seeking justice for those who have been taken too soon.