New premier to meet with Indigenous leaders, victims' families about landfill search

Mba-Remains 20230918 Cambria Harris, daughter of Morgan Harris, centre, and Jorden Myran, sister of Marcedes Myran, march towards Parliament Hill on an International Day of Action to Search the Landfills, in Ottawa, on Monday, Sept. 18, 2023. The remains of Morgan Harris, Marcedes Myran and another woman named as Mashkode Bizhiki’ikwe, or Buffalo Woman, killed by an alleged serial killer, are believed to be in a landfill north of Winnipeg. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Indigenous leaders and family members of two women whose remains are believed to be in a landfill near Winnipeg are set to meet with the new Premier of Manitoba who has promised he will support a landfill search.

Long Plain First Nation Chief Kyra Wilson told CTV News she will be attending a meeting with Premier Wab Kinew on Thursday along with members of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs and family members who have been long-calling for a landfill search.

"I think that everyone's on the same page there that, you know, we're walking into a space where somebody has openly supported the landfill search," Wilson said. "We are hopeful and just looking forward to starting these conversations with the new premier here in Manitoba."

It has been a long and hard-fought process for family members and advocates calling for a search of the Prairie Green Landfill ever since police announced it is believed the remains of Marcedes Myran and Morgan Harris were somewhere inside.

A feasibility study released earlier this year found a search could take up to three years and cost approximately $184 million. However, former Premier Heather Stefanson held firm to her decision not to search the landfill.

READ MORE: 'They don't care': family walks out of meeting with Premier over landfill search

Throughout his election campaign, Premier Wab Kinew had committed to supporting a search of the landfill, though he wouldn't commit to any specific cost.

In a statement, a spokesperson for the premier's office confirmed the meeting, and said the government is following through on its promise to search the landfill.

"This will be a challenging task, that will require us all to work together, and that work has to start with the families of Morgan Harris and Marcedes Myran," the statement reads.

The spokesperson said the previous government's approach caused deep harm to the families, and added this government is committed to a 'new era of reconciliation and unity for all Manitobans.

"The first step is to meet with the families as Premier, and I look forward to resetting the relationship between their families and the Government of Manitoba based on a foundation of respect," Kinew said in the statement.

Wilson said they are not expecting specific details from this meeting, such as a timeline as to when a search may begin. She said right now they are focused on establishing working relationships with everyone involved, including all levels of government.

Jeremy Skibicki has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with the deaths of Harris, Myran as well as Rebecca Contois and an unidentified woman Indigenous leaders are calling Mashkode Bizhiki'ikwe, or Buffalo Woman.

-with files from the Canadian Press