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Continued Search for Missing Indigenous Women Yields Identification of Remains

Authorities in Canada have confirmed the identification of the remains of an Indigenous woman, Morgan Harris, at a landfill following a protracted search that responded to demands from victims’ families devastated by a serial killer’s actions.

In a recent statement, police disclosed that human remains discovered in the Prairie Green Landfill, located north of Winnipeg, were identified as those of the 39-year-old Harris. “Her family has been notified and the Manitoba government continues to ask that the family’s privacy be respected,” the police statement noted.

Morgan Harris was one of four women murdered in 2022 by Jeremy Skibicki, who received a life sentence in July 2024 after being found guilty of first-degree murder. Skibicki, aged 37, had confessed to the murders of Harris, Rebecca Contois, Marcedes Myran, and an unnamed victim referred to as Mashkode Bizhiki’ikwe, or Buffalo Woman, by Indigenous leaders.

Police indicated that Harris’ remains were “one of two sets recovered in the search,” but details regarding the second set of remains have not been disclosed.

The series of murders came to light in 2022 when Contois’ remains were found in a dumpster near Skibicki’s residence. Both Harris and Myran are believed to have been buried within the confines of the Prairie Green landfill, while little information has emerged regarding Mashkode Bizhiki’ikwe.

Initially, police stated they lacked the necessary resources to conduct a search of the landfill, much of which was covered by layers of clay. However, this stance changed following sustained pressure from families of the victims and Indigenous groups in Winnipeg, who organized marches and road blockades to call for action. In response, the government committed C$20 million (approximately $14.7 million) to facilitate the search.

Cambria, Harris’ daughter, has actively advocated for the search and has been a vocal supporter of ensuring justice for her mother. Upon learning of the confirmation regarding her mother’s remains, she expressed her emotions on social media, describing the moment as “very bittersweet.” In her post, she urged others to keep their families in their thoughts as they navigate this arduous process, stating, “I believe both our families will bring both of our loved ones home.”

The tragedies surrounding Harris and her fellow victims are part of a larger crisis, as over 4,000 Indigenous women and girls have been reported murdered or missing in recent years. A significant 2019 report characterized these occurrences as a “genocide.” This alarming situation underscores a backdrop of systemic inequity and injustice, where vulnerable Indigenous women frequently fall prey to neglectful policies and widespread state indifference.

Source
www.theguardian.com