Open in full screen mode About 100 people demonstrated at the Winnipeg Legislative Building to demand that the Prairie Green dump outside Winnipeg be searched for the remains of at least two murdered Indigenous women. Radio-Canada In Winnipeg, around a hundred people gathered in front of the Legislative Building on Monday noon to demand the excavation of the Prairie Green dump, north of the Manitoba capital. The remains of two indigenous women believed to be victims of a suspected serial killer are believed to be in the landfill, police say. Similar demonstrations were also organized in at least 17 Canadian cities on Monday. Another demonstration is also being held on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, while work resumes in the House of Commons after the summer break. These mobilizations are part of the day of action that was organized by the families of Morgan Harris and Marcedes Myran, whose remains are believed to be at the Prairie Green dump, located north of Winnipeg. The families of the victims have been demanding an excavation of the dump since last December. Consult the complete file View the full file FollowFollow The chief of the Long Plain First Nation, Kyra Wilson, also spoke out in favor of the excavations. People are not trash, she expresses. We need to make sure that we continue the momentum and that people know that it is important that everyone comes together so that we can restore dignity to these women in their final rest. Before the Ottawa mobilization, the families of the victims met with the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, Gary Anandasangaree. Speaking to the press, the families say they expected the federal government to fund the search. One of the daughters of Morgan Harris, Cambria Harris, indicates instead that she experienced retraumatization during the meeting and maintains that the federal government has not yet promised financial assistance. I am tired of sitting in meetings and having to beg over and over for my voice and the voices of Indigenous women to be heard. It's clear today that reconciliation is dead, she said. Since the Manitoba government announced it would not fund the excavation in July, calls to excavate the Prairie Green dump grew nationwide. Events in support of the cause took place this summer in Saskatchewan and Vancouver. There are so many people who support the excavations and not just in indigenous communities. We have non-native allies from many organizations and several different communities, rejoices Kyra Wilson.
Serial murders of indigenous women
Serial murders of indigenous women
Cambria Harris, one of Morgan Harris' daughters, requested that the Brady Road dump and the Prairie Green dump, north of Winnipeg, be searched. (Archive photo)
While Manitoba's Progressive Conservatives maintain that they will not fund the excavations, citing in particular a risk to worker safety, Kyra Wilson recalls that other parties have promised to support them.
Manitoba NDP Leader Wab Kinew says a search of the Prairie Green dump will take place “as soon as possible” if his party forms the next government after the October 3 election. The Manitoba Liberals have committed to covering half of the costs of the operation.
Manitoba Green Party Leader Janine Gibson affirmed during the unveiling of her electoral platform on Saturday that she was in favor of a search and that it could be carried out in a less costly and safer manner.
A feasibility study published last spring indicates that an excavation could cost up to $184 million and last up to three years. (New window)
With information from Erin Brohman, Rachel Ferstl and The Canadian Press