The remains of Morgan Beatrice Harris have been identified among human remains found in a Manitoba landfill, highlighting the ongoing investigation into the serial killings of Indigenous women. The issue has stirred political controversy, particularly around the decision to search the landfill.
Remains of Indigenous Woman Identified as Victim of Convicted Serial Killer in Manitoba
Remains of Indigenous Woman Identified as Victim of Convicted Serial Killer in Manitoba
The identification of Morgan Beatrice Harris's remains reignites political and social discussions surrounding the search for victims in Manitoba's landfills.
The police in Manitoba have confirmed that some of the human remains discovered during a recent search of the Prairie Green landfill near Winnipeg belong to Morgan Beatrice Harris, one of four Indigenous women murdered by a serial killer. Harris, 39, and the other victims, including Rebecca Contois and Marcedes Myran, were all from the Winnipeg area and were brutally killed between March and May 2022. Jeremy Anthony Michael Skibicki, the convicted killer, was sentenced to life in prison last year.
Until now, only Contois's remains had been identified. Indigenous advocates and community leaders pushed for the landfill search, contrasting it with the extensive investigation into Robert Pickton’s farm in British Columbia, where he was convicted of the murders of several women, primarily Indigenous. In the recent Manitoba elections, the decision to search the landfill became a contentious political issue, with the former ruling Progressive Conservatives opposing the search on grounds including cost and safety concerns.
In response to the identification of Harris's remains, Wab Kinew, the New Democratic Party leader and Manitoba's first Indigenous premier, reiterated the importance of supporting victim families during this painful process. Harris's daughter expressed gratitude while acknowledging the bittersweet nature of the confirmation. Meanwhile, the interim leader of the Progressive Conservatives, Wayne Ewasko, expressed regret over the party’s previous stance against the search, but his apology drew criticism from Harris's family, who demanded more than just words.
As the community grapples with the tragic loss of these women, the ongoing conversations about justice, accountability, and the treatment of Indigenous people in Canada continue to unfold.
