Canada has pledged tens of millions of dollars to search landfill for the remains of two Indigenous women believed to have been murdered by an alleged serial killer, but experts and community groups have warned that the figure still may not be enough to complete a full search.
The federal and Manitoba governments agreed to each contribute C$20m ($14.7m) for an investigation of Winnipeg’s Prairie Green landfill, where the alleged murderer Jeremy Skibicki is believed to have dumped at least two of his known victims.
Skibicki, whose trial begins in April, is charged with first-degree murder deaths of Rebecca Contois, Morgan Harris, Marcedes Myran and an unidentified victim known as Buffalo Woman (Mashkode Bizhiki’ikwe). The remains of both Harris and Myran are believed to have been buried in the privately owned Prairie Green landfill.
At first, the police claimed that they lacked the means to comb through the waste at the Prairie Green facility, a large portion of which is covered by a substantial amount of clay. This angered and frustrated many, especially since the previous conservative ruling party in the province chose not to contribute funds towards a search, and even used it as a talking point during their unsuccessful re-election bid.
“We have been steadfast in our determination to search the landfill,” said Wab Kinew, the premier of Manitoba, in a statement released on Friday. This follows through on a promise he made before the October election. “We are now pleased to have the necessary funds to search every unit of space in question. Though we cannot guarantee success, we are committed to making every effort. This is our promise to the families involved.”
Morgan’s daughter, Cambria Harris, has been a strong advocate for her mother and the importance of conducting a search.
Harris stated after a meeting with Kinew that it is important to demonstrate that Indigenous women and people are deserving, appreciated, cherished, and hold a significant worth that is worth pursuing.
According to Cathy Merrick, the primary leader of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs, there is currently no set timeframe for a search, but she remains hopeful that once the efforts begin, they may be completed promptly. Merrick expressed a mix of emotions, stating, “Today is a day of both joy and sorrow. While there is a sense of relief, there is still work that needs to be done.” She made these remarks during a joint press conference with Harris.
Winnipeg police have stated in the past that they lacked the necessary resources to conduct a search at a landfill for the retrieval of the victims’ bodies.
The most recent report released by the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs and ISN Maskwa, a company specializing in emergency response training and services, brings attention to the tough and risky conditions involved in the search.
The document, which is 153 pages long, proposes a thorough search that could amount to C$90 million. This is more than double the amount proposed by the governments. It also states that the search teams would be at a “very high risk” of encountering asbestos.
Earlier findings indicated that searching could potentially last for as long as three years and result in expenses ranging from C$84m to C$184m.
One of the most difficult aspects of searching is how Prairie Green Landfill deals with asbestos. Even though the harmful substance is usually contained in heavy-duty bags and buried in designated areas of the landfill, a specific section where authorities suspect women’s remains may be found had 712 tonnes of asbestos deposited between April 11th and June 20th of 2022. The Canadian Press was able to view a report that has not yet been released to the public.
On May 16, 2022, approximately 12 tonnes were added to the landfill, which is most likely the day when the bodies of the two women were disposed of.
Merrick expressed his approval of the C$40m proposed by both governments, stating the significance of beginning and sustaining this process.
In the past few years, over 4,000 Indigenous females have been killed or gone missing, an event acknowledged as “genocide” in a significant 2019 report. Despite systemic inequality and unfair treatment, these vulnerable women are still being neglected by government policies and apathy.
Indigenous groups in Winnipeg have been organizing marches and road blockades for several months in order to pressure officials to authorize a search.
Merrick stated, “We are eager for this task to be finished. Our goal is to locate and bring home our lost loved ones, and we hope and pray that we will be successful.”
Source: theguardian.com
