Manitoba supports memorial, not landfill search, for slaying victims Posted: 5:37 PM CDT Wednesday, Jul. 5, 2023 Last Modified: 7:11 PM CDT Wednesday, Jul. 5, 2023 Updates

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Premier Heather Stefanson has confirmed her government will not support a search of a Winnipeg-area landfill for the remains of two slain Indigenous women.

Stefanson and Eileen Clarke, the minister of Indigenous reconciliation and northern relations, informed Indigenous leaders and the families of Morgan Harris, 39, and Marcedes Myran, 26, at a meeting Wednesday.

The remains of Harris and Myran are believed to be in the Prairie Green Landfill just north of the city.

Winnipeg police believe they and two other Indigenous women — Rebecca Contois, 24, and an unidentified victim since named Buffalo Woman by elders — were slain by an alleged serial killer in 2022.

Indigenous leaders and the families had called on the federal and provincial governments to pay for a search of Prairie Green.

Stefanson informed the women’s families the province is prepared to support a memorial, but not a search, based on the findings of an Indigenous-led committee that studied the feasibility of searching the site.

“We understand the desire to leave no stone unturned. However, the search process described in the report is complex, and comes with long-term human health and safety concerns that simply cannot be ignored,” Stefanson said in a statement. “Based on the report, we cannot knowingly risk Manitoba workers’ health and safety for a search without a guarantee.”

“We cannot knowingly risk Manitoba workers’ health and safety for a search without a guarantee.”–Premier Heather Stefanson

The committee found it is feasible to search the landfill, but there would be no guarantee human remains would be found.

The Harris and Myran families have said the potential timeline and cost — up to three years and as much as $184 million — should not prevent a search from happening.

A daughter of one of the slain women expressed anger and disappointment after the meeting. “I told (Stefanson) she was retraumatizing my family quite frankly, and I found it disrespectful,” Cambria Harris wrote in a social media post. “Once again a game of political yo-yo, pointing fingers back at the federal government and (Crown-Indigenous Relations) Minister Marc Miller, who has met with my family on numerous occasions.”

Stefanson said the government is prepared to work with Indigenous leaders and the families to prevent similar tragedies.

“We will continue to address the many sources of violence against Indigenous women and girls, including domestic and partner abuse, and other exploitation, while continuing our collaboration and investments in mental health supports and to address homelessness,” Stefanson said.

Mental health supports have been offered to the families, the statement said.

The federal government has not announced whether it will provide funding. It is reviewing the committee’s findings.

Police have charged Jeremy Skibicki, 36, with four counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of the four women.

— with files from The Canadian Press

— Staff