WINNIPEG — Potential human remains were discovered Wednesday at a landfill north of Winnipeg where search teams have been working to find two slain First Nations women.
"The RCMP has now initiated a found human remains investigation at the site and steps for identification are underway," the Manitoba government said in a press release.
It’s believed the remains of Morgan Harris and Marcedes Myran ended up at the landfill in May 2022.
A search of the landfill, spearheaded by the provincial government, began in December after police refused to search the area due to safety concerns.
The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs, which is working with the province on the search, said the discovery brings grief.
"The discovery of human remains at the Prairie Green Landfill is a painful but significant moment in our collective fight for justice," said Grand Chief Kyra Wilson.
"Today, we mourn. But we also stand in our strength. We stand in our love for the families. We stand in our commitment to justice. We will not stop until every missing and murdered Indigenous woman, girl, and two-spirit person is honoured, until every family gets the justice they deserve, and until our people are safe.”
The province said family members of the two women were notified and have been to the landfill.
Harris, Myran and two other Indigenous women were the victims of serial killer Jeremy Skibicki. He was convicted last year of four counts of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison.
A trial heard Skibicki targeted the women at homeless shelters in Winnipeg and disposed of their bodies in garbage bins in his neighbourhood.
The remains of Rebecca Contois were found in a garbage bin and at a different landfill.
Those of an unidentified woman Indigenous grassroots community members named Mashkode Bizhiki'ikwe, or Buffalo Woman, have not been located and police have not said where they might be.
Police and the province's former Progressive Conservative government rejected calls to search the Prairie Green landfill partly because of dangers from asbestos and toxic material at the site.
They also said there was no guarantee the remains would be found.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 26, 2025.
Brittany Hobson, The Canadian Press
