Manitoba premier to host meeting about potential landfill search for murder victims

Families and advocates who continue to push for a search of a Manitoba landfill for the remains of two murdered Indigenous women will meet with Manitoba’s new premier on Thursday.

On Wednesday, Long Plain First Nation Chief Kyra Wilson confirmed that she will be in attendance at a meeting scheduled for Thursday afternoon with family members of Morgan Harris and Marcedes Myran and Premier Wab Kinew.

For months family members of Harris and Myran have been asking all levels of government to move forward with a search of the Prairie Green Landfill north of Winnipeg for the remains of Harris and Myran, who police say were killed and dumped at the landfill by an alleged serial killer.

Jeremy Skibicki faces first-degree murder charges in the deaths of Harris and Myran, as well as for the death of Rebecca Contois, whose remains were found by police last year at the Brady Road Landfill and an unidentified woman Indigenous leaders are calling Buffalo Woman whose remains have not been found.

In June, then Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson announced her decision not to offer any assistance with a landfill search because of “health and safety concerns” raised in a feasibility report for those who would be conducting a search.

There is renewed hope for a search as Kinew, who was elected on Oct. 3, indicated throughout his campaign he believed the landfill should be searched, and although he has made no firm commitments just days into his term as premier, he has suggested on numerous occasions that the newly formed NDP government would be open to assisting with a search.

In a social media post on Tuesday, Cambria Harris, the daughter of Morgan Harris, said she is feeling “hopeful” about tomorrow’s meeting, and what could come out of it.

“Wab Kinew has shown support towards making an effort to search since December, from public statements, to the debate with the last premier, etc,” Harris wrote.

“I hope we can keep that same energy, and finally put our words into action and continue walking the sacred road to bring my mom home.”

— Dave Baxter is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter who works out of the Winnipeg Sun. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.

Dave Baxter, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Winnipeg Sun