The federal government and the provincial Manitoba government have agreed to spend $20 million Canadian each to search a landfill for the remains of two slain Indigenous women, Morgan Harris and Marcedes Myran. The landfill in question is the privately owned Prairie Green landfill located north of Winnipeg. Jeremy Skibicki has been charged with first-degree murder in the deaths of Harris, Myran, Rebecca Contois, and an unidentified woman Indigenous leaders have named Buffalo Woman. The remains of Buffalo Woman have not been found, and a previous search at a different landfill only uncovered partial remains of Contois. Despite initial police rejection of a search in 2022 due to potential hazards and the massive amount of material in the landfill, an Indigenous-led committee commissioned two reports on the feasibility of a search that may cost $90 million Canadian to complete within a year.
Cambria Harris, daughter of Morgan Harris, expressed gratitude for the funds allocated to the search, with Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew reportedly promising to search every part of the area where her mother is believed to be. Harris confirmed the amount of funding from both governments. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has condemned the historical lack of priority given to the disappearances and deaths of Indigenous women in Canada. Grand Chief Cathy Merrick of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs hopes that the funds provided will be sufficient to complete the search efforts necessary to locate the remains of the missing women.
The agreement between the federal and provincial governments to allocate funds to search for the remains of the slain Indigenous women comes as a response to the urgency and importance of bringing closure to the families of the victims. With the remains of one of the women, Buffalo Woman, still missing and only partial remains of Rebecca Contois found in a previous search, there is a pressing need to conduct a comprehensive and thorough search of the Prairie Green landfill. Despite initial concerns about the potential dangers of toxic materials and the immense volume of material in the landfill, an Indigenous-led committee has commissioned feasibility reports on the search effort, estimating a cost of $90 million Canadian to complete within a year.
The funding agreement for the search at the Prairie Green landfill represents a significant step towards justice and closure for the families of the victims, as well as a recognition of the historical legacy of overlooking the disappearances and deaths of Indigenous women in Canada. Police had previously rejected the idea of a search due to safety concerns and logistical challenges, but the commitment of both the federal and provincial governments to allocate $20 million Canadian each indicates a newfound willingness to prioritize the search efforts. The involvement of Indigenous leaders in advocating for the search and commissioning feasibility reports underscores the importance of community-driven initiatives in addressing cases of missing and murdered Indigenous women.
The impact of the funding agreement for the search efforts at the Prairie Green landfill extends beyond the immediate goal of locating the remains of the missing Indigenous women. The allocation of $20 million Canadian from each government demonstrates a recognition of the need to address systemic issues related to missing and murdered Indigenous women and the ongoing calls for justice and accountability. The involvement of Indigenous leaders, families of the victims, and government officials in supporting the search efforts highlights the collaborative and multidimensional approach required to address cases of violence against Indigenous women and girls in Canada. The funding agreement represents a step towards healing and reconciliation for the affected communities, as well as a commitment to upholding the rights and dignity of Indigenous peoples in Canada.
