The Manitoba government continues to face criticism over its decision this week not to search the Prairie Green Landfill for the remains of two First Nations women believed to be victims of a serial killer, with a political studies professor who says it points to a lack of political policy. will.
On Wednesday, Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson told the families of Morgan Harris and Marcedes Myran that the province would not support the search for the women’s remains at the private landfill north of Winnipeg. Police believe her remains were brought to Prairie Green last year.
That decision has now led to the blocking and closing of a different landfill in Winnipeg’s south end.
“The fight has just begun,” said Melissa Robinson, Morgan Harris’ cousin, Thursday at a blockade set up outside the municipal landfill on Brady Road.
“When she tells us ‘no,’ it makes us want it even more.”
A report published earlier this year, examining the feasibility of a search at Prairie Green for the women’s remains, suggested that a successful search of the site is possible.
It would take up to three years and cost up to $184 million, according to the report. It would also require examining 60,000 tons of material, including toxic waste, with no guarantee of finding any remains.
Stefanson cited security concerns as the main reason for not supporting search.
“In the report itself, it identified that there are security risks … we are very concerned about them,” he told reporters on Thursday.
His comments came after the province released a statement Wednesday afternoon, following its meeting with the families, saying it “cannot jeopardize the health and safety of Manitoba workers for an unprovoked search. guarantee” of finding remains.
The feasibility report recommends that a search include hazardous materials teams on site to monitor air quality, act as safety agents and perform worker decontamination.
Possible political repercussions
Kathy Walker, a University of Saskatchewan Okanesa First Nation assistant professor of political studies, sees the province’s reasoning as a red herring.
Lack of political will and public apathy are factors, he said.
Kathy Walker is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Studies at the University of Saskatchewan. (Zoom)
“This is mainly due to misrepresentations of Indigenous women and girls … that we are somehow inferior or deviant or somehow deserving of violence,” Walker said.
Harris and Myran are two of four Indigenous women police allege were killed by the same man.
Jeremy Skibicki is charged with first-degree murder in both Harris’ and Myran’s deaths, as well as the death of 24-year-old Rebecca Contois, whose partial remains were found last year in the Brady Road landfill, and a fourth unidentified woman. , whom community members have called Mashkode Bizhiki’ikwe, or Buffalo Woman.
The remains of Mashkode Bizhiki’ikwe have not been found.
Skibicki’s trial is scheduled to begin in April 2024.
From left to right: Morgan Beatrice Harris, Marcedes Myran and Rebecca Contois. Winnipeg police have charged Jeremy Skibicki with first-degree murder in the deaths of the three women, as well as an unidentified fourth woman, whom community members have dubbed Mashkode Bizhiki’ikwe, or Buffalo Woman. (Submitted by Winnipeg Police Service and Darryl Contois)
Manitoba Liberal Leader Dougald Lamont believes the decision against the Prairie Green search comes down to “indifference and cost.”
“We have to recognize that this is a province that has a terrible record of treatment of First Nations,” he said.
The opposition NDP has yet to weigh in on the provincial government’s decision, despite multiple requests for comment from CBC.
Paul Thomas, professor emeritus of political studies at the University of Manitoba, said there are likely to be difficult discussions and decisions among opposition leaders.
“They’re going to have to come out with a position and they’re going to have to shape their response in a way that doesn’t cost them more public support” in an election year, he said.
Christopher Adams, an assistant professor of political studies at the University of Manitoba, doesn’t think the province’s decision will have much of an impact on the upcoming election for the Progressive Conservatives, whose support among indigenous voters is typically low, he said. .
“So in terms of this being an election year, I don’t think there’s a lot of consequence,” Adams said.
However, “a lot of the non-Indigenous population is concerned about reconciliation and making sure that Indigenous issues are addressed,” he said.
“So it could have some negative repercussions for the PCs in the upcoming election on October 3.”
The federal government has yet to say whether it will fund a search. A statement from a spokesman for Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Marc Miller said the proposal is still under review.
