Crown Indigenous Relations Minister Marc Miller laments the Manitoba government’s decision not to fund excavations at the Prairie Green landfill to find the remains of two Indigenous women who were victims of a suspected serial killer. He considers this decision “heartless”.
Last Thursday, the Manitoba government announced that it would not fund an excavation at the Prairie Green landfill to search for the remains of two missing Native American women.
According to the provincial government, these excavations could pose health risks to those involved in this research.
Marc Miller spoke Wednesday at the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) Manitoba Caucus in Halifax as part of the AFN Annual Meeting.
He says Manitoba’s decision affected the federal government’s ability to provide assistance. He suggested that the province acted insensitively.
In a way, it was me [qualifierais] heartless, he said. As a federal government, we have to try. Our Manitoba partner’s response makes any move this summer logistically impossible.
The federal government is ready to help. We are ready to play a very important role in this matter. But the government cannot nationalize a Winnipeg landfill, he added.
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Members of the Manitoba Chiefs Assembly met with Secretary of Crown Indigenous Relations Marc Miller in Halifax on Wednesday to discuss issues close to their hearts.
Photo: Facebook/Manitoba Chiefs Convention
Morgan Harris, Marcedes Myran and an unknown woman named Mashkode Bizihiki’kwe, or Buffalo Woman, are the victims of a suspected serial killer.
The remains of Morgan Harris and Marcedes Myran are believed to be at the Prairie Green landfill. Police do not know the whereabouts of Mashkode Bizihiki’kwe’s remains.
According to Secretary Marc Miller, the Manitoba Premier is right to raise health and safety issues for the workers conducting these excavations. However, he points out that the federal government has a habit of carrying out dangerous actions, such as clearing mines and searching landfills.
Minister Miller added that the feasibility study proved that research is possible. He clarified that he had not asked Manitoba to do all the excavation work alone.
We’re not saying you have to do it alone. We say that we are willing to work with you. It is very difficult for the Canadian government as a federal body to say that it will do the work itself. From a logistical point of view, it will not work, emphasizes Marc Miller.
The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (ACM), present at the time of Secretary Marc Miller’s statement, supports this exit.
The province’s inaction and indifference are unacceptable and deserve condemnation. It is a deeply discouraging expression of disregard for First Nations life, AMC Grand Chief Cathy Merrick said in a press release.
“As First Nations leaders, we collectively demand that provincial and federal governments show compassion, respect and responsibility for missing and murdered Indigenous women and their families,” continued Kyra Wilson, Chief of the Long Plain Nation. The city of Winnipeg, the provincial government, and the federal government must engage and support the search effort so their loved ones can turn the tide and seek justice.
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Heather Stefanson at a press conference Wednesday at the conclusion of the Federation Council’s summer session in Winnipeg.
Photo: The Canadian Press/John Woods
In a written statement, a spokeswoman for the prime minister’s office said Heather Stefanson had made Manitoba’s position clear. He adds that the decision is final.
Everyone is waiting for a decision from the federal government, the statement said. It’s time for the federal government to show leadership and clarity.
“We understand the decision will take into account the very real risks to human health and worker safety that were highlighted in the feasibility study,” Prime Minister Heather Stefanson said through her spokeswoman.
She admits her government’s decision is heartbreaking for the victims’ families. It reiterates the psychological support being offered to families and the investments to prevent further tragedies related to missing or murdered Indigenous women and girls.
A call for an end to the landfill blockade in Winnipeg
Ever since the Manitoba government announced it would not fund the dig, activists have blocked Winnipeg’s main municipal landfill, the Brady Road Landfill, to protest the decision.
The city of Winnipeg is seeking an injunction to end the blockade. The case will be heard at the Winnipeg Courthouse on Thursday.
Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham said he had a telephone conversation with Secretary of State for Crown-Indigenous Relations Marc Miller on Wednesday.
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Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham. (archive photo)
Photo: Radio Canada
He asked the Minister to contact the families of Morgan Harris and Marcedes Myran as they needed to know as soon as possible if a search was going on.
Families are stuck between two tiers of government that disagree on what to do. The city is in a similar situation, he said in a written statement.
According to Scott Gillingham, the protesters blocking the entrance to the Brady Road landfill need an indication of what will happen before they can end the blockade.
With information from Bartley Kives