Authorities in Manitoba have confirmed the identification of Morgan Beatrice Harris's remains among victims of a serial killer, sparking political discourse about the search's necessity and treatment of Indigenous communities.
Search for Remains of Indigenous Women in Manitoba Landfill Concludes with Identification
Search for Remains of Indigenous Women in Manitoba Landfill Concludes with Identification
The tragic and complex case surrounding the remains of Indigenous women found in Manitoba's landfill highlights deep-rooted societal issues.
The police in Manitoba announced the identification of human remains discovered in a landfill near Winnipeg as those of Morgan Beatrice Harris, 39, one of four Indigenous women murdered by a serial killer. This announcement comes in the wake of a months-long search prompted by the political and social urgency surrounding the case. Harris, who was a member of the Long Plain First Nation, was among the victims who were killed between March and May 2022; others included Rebecca Contois, Marcedes Myran, and an unidentified woman known as Buffalo Woman.
Late last year, Jeremy Anthony Michael Skibicki was convicted for the murders and sentenced to life in prison. His case drew public attention due to his troubling online behavior, often echoing extremist ideologies. Calls for the search of the Prairie Green landfill became a divisive political issue during the 2023 provincial elections, with the opposing Progressive Conservative party arguing against it due to financial implications and the perceived low chances of finding additional remains.
Indigenous community leaders have criticized the contrasting response to this case compared to the infamous Robert Pickton case in British Columbia, where authorities conducted a comprehensive investigation on a serial killer's pig farm. This juxtaposition has heightened frustrations over how Indigenous victims are treated within the justice system.
The New Democratic Party government, led by Wab Kinew, the first Indigenous premier in Manitoba’s history, championed the search. Harris’s daughter, Cabria, expressed a mix of grief and relief over the identification of her mother’s remains. Following the statement, the interim leader of the Progressive Conservatives acknowledged their missteps, stating the party failed to show adequate empathy or commitment to the victims’ families. However, Cabria responded critically, emphasizing that words must be backed by meaningful actions to restore trust.
