Indigenous activists have been protesting next to the Canadian Museum for Human Rights in Winnipeg, Manitoba in central Manitoba since last Tuesday. They decided to move there after being evicted from one of the entrances to the city’s largest landfill where they had set up camp. Their protest stems from the provincial government’s refusal to search another landfill site for the remains of three Indigenous women who were victims of a suspected serial killer.
Winnipeg Police arrested Jeremy Skibicki, a 35-year-old individual with a long criminal record of sexual assault, threats and assault, in May 2022. He was charged with the death of Rebecca Contois, a 24-year-old Native American woman whose remains were found in an area of the Brady Landfill. In December, Skibicki was charged with the murders of three other Indigenous women: Morgan Harris, 39, Marcedes Myran, 26, and a third victim who has yet to be identified by authorities. Police suspect the remains of these women may be at the Prairie Green landfill.
The provincial government announced earlier this month that it would not fund the search for the bodies at the landfill after analyzing a report submitted in May. The document says the investigation could take up to three years and could result in a bill of up to CA$184 million (about US$140 million). However, Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson stressed that the decision was made because “due to an investigation, the outcome of which was not guaranteed,” it could not jeopardize the health and safety of the workers assigned to the job.
Two days later, a group of Indigenous activists decided to block access to the Brady landfill site south of the city in protest. The eviction took place on Tuesday morning by order of a judge. The protesters decided to move their camp a few yards from the Canadian Museum of Human Rights. Jorden Myran, the sister of one of the victims, told the CBC network that they plan to “keep the camp open and protesting until the landfill search is complete.”
Marc Miller, federal minister for Indian relations, lamented the Manitoba government’s July 12 decision, calling it “cruel.” In response, Prime Minister Stefanson called Miller’s comments “regrettable” and called for the issue not to be politicized. On Monday, the Manitoba Indian chiefs convention called on the provincial government to reconsider its decision, saying experts believe there are ways to protect workers from toxic waste from the landfill.
These deaths and the investigations into them are raising thorny issues again in Canada. A federal government report released in 2019 estimated that Indigenous women in the country were up to 12 times more likely to be victims of murder and enforced disappearance. Likewise, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and other security forces have recognized that several of their actions stemmed from racism and discrimination, particularly towards indigenous communities. The trial of Jeremy Skibicki, the alleged serial killer, will begin in April.
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