Families hope trauma-informed policing becomes the rule, rather than the exception, in MMIWG cases

It was nearly a decade ago that Sue Caribou's family gathered at a landfill in Winnipeg as police began to search for the remains of her missing niece Tanya Nepinak.

"They said they would clean a spot for us where we can see them searching. But instead, when I got there, I got chased away. We didn't get to watch like they promised us. They broke a lot of promises," Caribou said.

It was October 2012, and Caribou says Winnipeg police told her family they would comb through the dump looking for Nepinak's remains for one month. But the search was called off a little over a week after it started — on what would have been Nepinak's 32nd birthday.

"It broke my heart. My sister was devastated," Caribou said.

Nepinak's remains have never been found. Convicted killer Shawn Lamb was charged in her death in June 2012, but the charges were later stayed.

Nearly 10 years later, officers were once again back at the same landfill this week looking for the remains of another Indigenous woman — Rebecca Contois. 

But this time, the family was treated differently.

Winnipeg police said they wanted to take a more culturally sensitive approach in their investigation into Contois's death.

That involved bringing in the police service's own support staff for the families, along with community organization Ka Ni Kanichihk.

Before officers began digging through the landfill, there was a sacred fire lit and ceremony in honour of Contois, her loved ones and the searchers. Several Indigenous groups also had counselling support on hand.

Winnipeg police also said they would give timely updates on the investigation to the family through a trauma-informed approach.

Contois, 24, was one of three First Nations women killed in Winnipeg last month within two weeks. Jeremy Anthony Micheal Skibicki has been charged with first-degree murder in connection to her death.

Police announced on Wednesday they had uncovered human remains at the landfill, but they still need to be identified.

That news sent Caribou through a wave of emotion — wondering if there was any chance it could be her niece Tanya.