'No more delays' in searching Winnipeg-area landfill for remains of women: Manitoba grand chief
CBC
First Nations leaders are urging the federal and provincial governments to act fast on findings in a new report that outlines how to search a Winnipeg-area landfill for the remains of two First Nations women believed to have been killed by the same man.
Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs Grand Chief Cathy Merrick said her organization — working with input from technical experts, the families of the two women and others — has produced and shared a new search feasibility report.
The report has been sent to Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada, Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew and Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham, Merrick said at a Thursday afternoon news conference in Winnipeg.
She said the report identifies two paths forward, including one on an expedited timeline, for how to search Prairie Green landfill, north of Winnipeg, for the remains of Marcedes Myran, 26, and Morgan Harris, 39.
Police believe both were killed by an alleged serial killer, and their remains were taken to Prairie Green landfill in May 2022.
Merrick urged the federal and provincial governments to commit to a firm timeline after reviewing the report, with a start date identified for this year.
"No more delays, no more vague promises," Merrick said Thursday at a news conference in Winnipeg. "I speak with urgency and expect action from the governments."
AMC said it won't be releasing the report in full publicly, but intended to provide an overview of key information.
Donna Bartlett, the grandmother of Marcedes Myran, said families shouldn't have to beg for a search.
"I am still here fighting to get the landfill search done," she said at Thursday's news conference.
"This is our women, there's no reason for them to be in that landfill.... If we weren't First Nations people, I am pretty damn sure they'd be looking real quick."
Melissa Robinson, cousin to Morgan Harris, said while some government officials have been "pretty amazing" with families so far, she called out Gillingham.
She said in a meeting six months ago, the Winnipeg mayor committed to set aside land where a structure could be built to sort through material and run other operations during a search.
"Six months later we still have yet to hear from him," said Robinson. "We're always talking about reconciliation.… [Gillingham] talks a good game. He needs to produce some land now."
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