Protesters say 'other warriors will take action' as city removes landfill blockade

The blockade at Winnipeg's Brady Landfill has been removed, nearly two weeks after protesters set it up demanding a search of a landfill north of the city for the remains of two Indigenous women.

The blockade at Winnipeg's Brady Landfill has been removed, nearly two weeks after protesters set it up demanding a search of a landfill north of the city for the remains of two Indigenous women.

Insp. Gord Spado with the Winnipeg Police Service said Tuesday morning that he and another officer arrived at the blockade to discuss its removal and reopen the road to the landfill.

He said their goal was to resolve the matter peacefully.

"The people that were here for the blockade were very cooperative. I interacted with the leader of the group and we gained an understanding of what was going to happen today. It was kept peaceful," said Spado.

After an agreement was made to have the blockade removed, Spado said city crews brought in equipment like front-end loaders and other machinery to remove what was on the road.

Protesters have been blocking the area since early July after Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson announced the province would not search Prairie Green Landfill for the remains of two women who are believed to be in the landfill – Morgan Harris and Marcedes Myran.

At the time, Stefanson said the potential health and safety risks for searchers were the main reason she won't support a search, citing the finds of a feasibility study that said workers could encounter toxic material and that there is no guarantee anything will be found.