First Nations advocates for landfill search looking forward to meeting with Manitoba's new premier
CBC
Manitoba's new premier is set to meet with the families of two First Nations women whose remains are believed to be in the Prairie Green landfill, north of Winnipeg.
Long Plain First Nation Chief Kyra Wilson told CBC she will be attending the meeting scheduled for Thursday along with family members of Morgan Harris, Marcedes Myran and Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs Grand Chief Cathy Merrick.
Cambria Harris, the daughter of Morgan, one of the women believed to be in the landfill, said she learned about the meeting with Wab Kinew on Monday, after his office reached out to Long Plain First Nation.
Kinew was sworn is as premier last Wednesday.
"What went through my mind was that maybe, just maybe we might have a chance to bring my mother Morgan home," said Harris.
"I'm grateful that they did reach out and offer to sit down with us," she said. "While I don't know what that meeting will entail, we do know that they have committed to help toward working to search the landfill and so for that I'm grateful."
Last December Winnipeg police announced Jeremy Skibicki had been charged in the deaths of Morgan Harris, Marcedes Myran and an unidentified victim who was given the name Mashkode Bizhiki'ikwe, or Buffalo Woman.
Skibicki had been in custody after being charged with first-degree murder in the death of Rebecca Contois months earlier.
Police revealed they believe the remains of Harris and Myran are in the Prairie Green landfill, but had made the decision not to search after determining it would not be feasible.
Partial remains of Rebecca Contois were discovered in the Brady Road landfill in June 2022. The location of Buffalo Woman's remains is unknown.
For months Harris, along with other family members, advocates and First Nations leaders have been demanding all levels of government to help conduct a search.
A feasibility study on a possible search completed in May estimated it could take up to three years and cost between $84 million and $184 million.
The report said safety measures could be taken to mitigate the potential hazards of searching the landfill.
In July, the former Progressive Conservative government announced they would not support a search of the Prairie Green landfill saying there were concerns around the safety of those who would be conducting the search and said there was no guarantee the remains of the women would be found.
A holiday event that began in 2020 during the pandemic with three floats on pickup trucks has now become one of Kelowna’s big winter events, drawing thousands to the city’s downtown core.
WARNING: This story details allegations of child abuse.
It’s been hard to keep track of how many legal challenges and active court proceedings the United Conservative government has tried to quash or pre-emptively block in the last six weeks, but let’s try to tally:
Margaret Walker, the emcee of a Waterloo vigil commemorating the victims of the Montreal massacre, doesn't feel enough is being done to reflect on the killings and address gender-based violence.
The P.E.I. Humane Society says it is doing far more fundraising than it used to, and rising expenses — including the cost of animal medications — are a big reason why.
Ottawa is staring down a court-ordered deadline to submit a new plan to reform the on-reserve child welfare system, as a group of First Nations leaders and children’s advocates prepare a competing proposal.
An underpass revitalization project that was meant to pay tribute to the people of Parkdale has instead deteriorated into “a garbage dump,” according to nearby residents.
A young man has been charged with criminal negligence causing bodily harm after a fire at a frat party near Western University that injured five sorority sisters, including two seriously, late Tuesday night.
The massive deal to combine one of Hollywood's oldest studios with a streaming giant hasn't even been approved yet, but it's already riling multiple related industries and politicians concerned about monopolies and media concentration.
Mi'kmaq chiefs and a former Nova Scotia justice minister are criticizing the provincial government for directing police to crack down on illegal cannabis, saying the order undermines relations with Indigenous Peoples.
For years, there has been “glaring inequity” in the way the province has allocated the millions of dollars in its county roads budget, according to Department of Transportation Minister Chuck Chiasson.
Six months after passing a law aimed at making it easier for new grocery stores to open, Manitoba's premier says lower grocery bills could be on the horizon.
Timothy Smith was acting in self-defence when he punched Landon Waddell, and shouldn't be found guilty of manslaughter, his lawyer says.