Communities left grieving after 4 Indigenous women are believed to have been killed by serial killer
Community members are honouring and remembering the four Indigenous women who are believed to have been killed at the hands of a serial killer.
“It’s been a lot for many people in the last 24 hours since we had received the news of the loss of four women. Two of these women were from Long Plain,” said Kyra Wilson, Chief of Long Plain First Nation, in an interview on Friday.
“Right now what we’ve been doing as a community is just coming together to ensure that we have the proper supports in place.”
A candlelight vigil was held on Thursday after the Winnipeg Police Service announced that Jeremy Anthony Michael Skibicki had been charged in the killings of four Indigenous women.
Wilson said it’s unfortunate that Indigenous communities so often have to come together for vigils.
“It really speaks to how Indigenous women or two-spirit [individuals] or men are targeted when it comes to violence,” the chief said.
“It’s not just somethings that’s happened yesterday, today – this is something that’s happened for generations.”
The investigation began in May 2020 when police released details about the death of Rebecca Contois, 24, whose remains were found near an apartment on Edison Avenue and at the Brady Landfill. Skibicki was charged with first-degree murder in connection to Contois’ death.
The Winnipeg Police Service continued to investigate and on Thursday, announced that officers identified three more victims. It’s believed these women were killed between March and May.
One woman, who has yet to be been identified, is believed to have been killed around March 15, 2022.
Two other victims have also been identified – Morgan Beatrice Harris, 39, and Marcedes Myran, 26. Harris is believed to have been killed on or around May 1, and Myran is believed to have been killed on or around May 4. Both Harris and Myran were members of Long Plan First Nation.
Police charged Skibicki with three more counts of first-degree murder. None of the charges have been proven in court.
Wilson said she had a personal connection to Contois, Harris and Myran.
“It’s really sad because as Indigenous communities, we have all these connection to each other, even if you’re not related, you know them, or are connected to them from family, from friends, from community initiatives,” she said.
“There’s that connection there with each and every one of us. It really is such a big loss for our Indigenous communities, even if somebody is not directly related to us or to the community.”
In a statement, the Southern Chiefs’ Organization (SCO) expressed its condolences to the family, friends and nations of the four women who were killed.
SCO Grand Chief Jerry Daniels said he is “extremely distressed” by the news of these deaths.
“On behalf of SCO, I extend our deep condolences to the families, friends, and those who loved these four women,” he said.
“We will be keeping you in our thoughts and prayers as you grapple with the news that your loved ones have been taken from us in such a violent way.”
Daniels said that the SCO urges those involved in investigating and prosecuting the suspect to charge him with committing hate crimes against Indigenous women. The SCO also wants investigators to understand that families have been saying for years that there are serial killers who target Indigenous women.
“I urge all those impacted by this news to seek out supports. Reach out to one another and seek out mental health and wellness supports should you need them,” Daniels said.
The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (AMC) also released a statement on the investigation, saying the organization is saddened by the news.
On behalf of the AMC, Grand Chief Cathy Merrick sent her deepest condolences to the families who have lost a loved one.
“Canada, the Province of Manitoba, and the Winnipeg Police Services must implement more measures to protect First Nations women from the murderers who target them. We must work together to honour the MMIWG’s 231 Calls to Justice and act immediately,” Merrick said.
- With files from CTV’s Charles Lefebvre and Taylor Brock.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
Last letters of pioneering climber who died on Everest reveal dark side of mountaineering
George Mallory is renowned for being one of the first British mountaineers to attempt to scale the dizzying heights of Mount Everest during the 1920s. Nearly a century later, newly digitized letters shed light on Mallory’s hopes and fears about ascending Everest.
Toxic testing standoff: Family leaves house over air quality
A Sherwood Park family says their new house is uninhabitable. The McNaughton's say they were forced to leave the house after living there for only a week because contaminants inside made it difficult to breathe.
Decoy bear used to catch man who illegally killed a grizzly, B.C. conservation officers say
A man has been handed a lengthy hunting ban and fined thousands of dollars for illegally killing a grizzly bear, B.C. conservation officers say.
B.C. seeks ban on public drug use, dialing back decriminalization
The B.C. NDP has asked the federal government to recriminalize public drug use, marking a major shift in the province's approach to addressing the deadly overdose crisis.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
An emergency slide falls off a Delta Air Lines plane, forcing pilots to return to JFK in New York
An emergency slide fell off a Delta Air Lines jetliner shortly after takeoff Friday from New York, and pilots who felt a vibration in the plane circled back to land safely at JFK Airport.
OPP responds to apparent video of officer supporting anti-Trudeau government protestors
The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) says it's investigating an interaction between a uniformed officer and anti-Trudeau government protestors after a video circulated on social media.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.