‘Changing that system’: daughter of murder victim sees progress on Red Dress Day

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This article was published 05/05/2025 (487 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A year ago on Red Dress Day, Cambria Harris pleaded with the Manitoba government to search the landfill for the remains of her murdered mother.

“One year later, I can officially say that we were right,” Harris said Monday afternoon after speaking to a group of about 50 people at the University of Manitoba. “We searched the Prairie Green Landfill, and we finally are changing that system.”

Harris, 24, delivered a 60-minute keynote that covered a myriad of personal stories about her and Morgan Harris, who was slain by convicted serial killer Jeremy Skibicki. Her remains were found in March after a search at the landfill north of Winnipeg.

Harris spoke at length about the difficulties she faced in receiving justice for her mother and three other victims, Ashlee Shingoose, Marcedes Myran and Rebecca Contois, including an unsuccessful discussion with former premier Heather Stefanson about searching the landfill for their remains.

The speech was preceded by a traditional Indigenous water and pipe ceremony and was one of several events across Winnipeg for Red Dress Day, held annually across Canada to remember the lives of murdered and missing Indigenous women and girls.

Harris said the landfill fight was an example of collective action, but said there was more work to be done. She mentioned Tanya Nepinak, who disappeared in 2011. Police believe her body was dumped in a garbage bin and taken to the Brady Road landfill.

Shawn Lamb was charged with second-degree murder in the death of Nepinak and two other women, Lorna Blacksmith and Carolyn Sinclair. He was convicted of manslaughter in the slayings of Blacksmith and Sinclair, but his charges related to Nepinak’s death were stayed.

Police searched part of the landfill for Nepinak in 2012 but called off the search after a week. No remains have ever been found.

Harris said the public needs to continue to pressure authorities to take more action to protect Indigenous women and girls.

“We need to keep holding (the government) accountable so there isn’t another Indigenous person standing in front of them asking to search the landfill,” Harris said.

Premier Wab Kinew has since spoken to Nepinak’s family about a possible search for her remains.

Also Monday, the Manitoba government announced a $15-million MMIWG2S+ Healing and Empowerment Endowment Fund it established last year accrued more than $350,000 and it would be giving the money to five Indigenous organizations to support families of MMIWG.

The province will split the funds between Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak, the Southern Chiefs’ Organization, Giganawenimaanaanig, the Manitoba Métis Federation Infinity Women’s Secretariat and Tunngasugit.

Families can apply for the fund to cover a variety of things, including costs related to searching for missing women and girls, funerals, headstones and school tuition for family members.

Manitoba is Canada’s only jurisdiction to have an endowment fund operate in perpetuity to support MMIWG families and related organizations, Families Minister Nahanni Fontaine said.

“What that means is that MMIWG2S+ families across the country don’t have the means to be able to access dollars that they might need,” she said at the announcement.

Elsewhere, hundreds walked from Memorial Park to The Forks as part of the Red Dress Day memorial walk.

People dressed in red walked along Broadway to Main Street drumming, singing and holding signs and banners. The walk ended at Oodena Circle at The Forks where there was more drumming, guest speakers and the opportunity to smudge.

Back at the university, Harris said community events and continuing dialogue surrounding MMIWG is important to address the ongoing crisis.

“When we collectively come together and acknowledge people such as myself, we’re making that change for our future and younger generations,” she said.

nicole.buffie@freepress.mb.ca