Landfill search advocates demonstrate at World Police Fire Games in Winnipeg
CBC
Demonstrators briefly pushed and shoved with security at the entrance to a World Police and Fire Games venue in Winnipeg Sunday night following a rally where Indigenous leaders and grieving family members continued to press the government to search landfills for the remains of homicide victims.
About 200 people marched from the Oodena Circle — an Indigenous gathering space at The Forks in the city's downtown — to the games' athletes village. They chanted "bring them home" and "search the landfill" as they moved through the national historic site.
Once at the games venue, a small group of demonstrators pressed themselves against the front entrance gates, which were held in place by nine security guards. After a few moments of tension, the demonstrators backed off.
As many as a dozen uniformed Winnipeg police officers arrived soon after, but they weren't observed taking action against the demonstrators.
The otherwise peaceful rally and march was organized by the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (AMC), which represents the majority of First Nations in the province.
The advocacy organization called the rally to continue to pressure the Manitoba and federal governments to move forward with the landfill searches.
The remains of Morgan Harris, 39, along with those of 26-year-old Marcedes Myran, are believed to be in the privately run Prairie Green landfill just north of Winnipeg after the women were allegedly killed by the same man last year.
Winnipeg police say they believe a search for them is not feasible. The AMC has said a recent feasibility study shows a search could in fact be safely conducted.
The Manitoba government has previously said it won't help fund a search citing safety concerns it says could result from sifting through toxic materials.
Grand Chief Cathy Merrick told those at the rally that the province helped fund the police and fire games to the tune of millions of dollars.
The Olympic-style competition featuring active and retired first responders is expected to bring more than 8,500 participants — including friends and family of competitors — from more than 70 countries.
Merrick urged Premier Heather Stefanson to not ignore the calls to change her government's position.
"Beyond being premier, you are a human being … do the right thing and take collaborative action," Merrick said.
Merrick was joined by other provincial First Nations leaders and also relatives of the slain women. Harris's cousin, Melissa Robinson, called Stefanson "heartless," while Cambria Harris, Morgan's daughter, described the provincial government's decision "a scary, scary thing to do."
This First Person column is the experience of Shannon Flaman, who lives in Red Deer, Alta. For more information about CBC's First Person stories, please see the FAQ.
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