Manitoba, federal governments promise $20M each to search Prairie Green landfill for human remains
Funds to support the families also promised, Grand Chief Cathy Merrick says
WARNING: This story contains distressing details about missing and murdered Indigenous women.
The federal and provincial governments have committed $20 million each toward searching the Prairie Green landfill for the remains of two Indigenous women.
"A lot of money has been spent to convince governments to do the right thing, and today, meeting with the federal government and provincial government, there was a commitment from them to search the landfills," Grand Chief Cathy Merrick of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs said at a news conference Friday afternoon.
"Today's a very bittersweet day. It's a sense of relief, but yet work needs to be done."
Spokespeople for both governments confirmed the funding Friday afternoon in separate emails, just before the start of the news conference with Merrick and Cambria Harris, the daughter of Morgan Harris. The remains of Harris and Marcedes Myran are believed to be in the landfill.
The provincial government also committed $500,000 to help the families during the trial of the man accused of killing them and two other women, while the federal government promised another $200,000 for the mental well-being of the families, Merrick said.
The families have accused the provincial government of delays and inaction since it promised during last fall's election campaign that there would be a search of the landfill.
Cambria Harris said Friday that she's grateful first to the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs for helping her, but also to the provincial and federal governments for agreeing to fund the search.
Harris also said she'll continue to push forward for a search of the landfill not just for her mother, Morgan, but for "every little Indigenous kid out there who never had a say growing up." Harris said her mother was once one of those kids.
"It's about showing that our Indigenous women, our Indigenous people, that we're worth it," said Harris. "That we're valued, that we're loved and we're more than worth searching for."
Harris also said she's experienced "every emotion out there" over the last year, but is using her pain and grief to "turn it into something beautiful.
"I was sick of people controlling my narrative, I was sick of people telling me what they will and will not do with my mother's body," she said. "And so it was time for me to take that back, for not only me, not only for my mother, but for my people and for my communities."
WATCH | Cambria Harris reacts to government funding commitments:
The search won't start until after the trial of Jeremy Skibicki, who is charged with first-degree murder in the deaths of Harris, Myran, Rebecca Contois, whose partial remains were found in a different landfill, and an unidentified woman Indigenous leaders have named Buffalo Woman, whose remains have not been found.
Skibicki's jury trial is scheduled for 28 days starting April 29.
While the trial is happening, preparations for the search can be made, including hiring and training staff, Merrick said.
An Indigenous-led committee commissioned two reports on the feasibility of a search, which has been estimated to cost $90 million if completed within a year.
Merrick said they asked whether they would have to return to ask for more money if the amount that's committed is insufficient.
"We don't want to go back and back again," she said. "We want to see this work be completed. We want to ensure that we find the loved ones that have been there for 15 months now."
Merrick also called the completion of those reports historic during Friday's news conference and said there have been searches of other landfills where those conducting the search weren't asked to produce a feasibility study to see how worthwhile or costly it would be.
Merrick said $500,000 in funding from the federal government was given to conduct the first feasibility study. The federal government then provided $740,000 to further research how to conduct a search safely after the feasibility study, also funded by the federal government, found it would be possible, but that toxic materials could pose a risk to workers.
"A lot of money has been spent to convince governments to do the right thing," said Merrick.
WATCH | Grand chief talks about the work that led to Friday's announcement:
Harris said Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew promised a thorough search would be done.
"Wab Kinew, in his words, said that we are going to search every cubic metre of Cell 13 [of the landfill] where my mother, Morgan and Marcedes are laying."
Kinew said in a statement Friday the NDP's commitment to search the landfill has been "unrelenting" and that the provincial government is "glad to move forward with the funds necessary to search every cubic metre of the relevant space."
The statement also said while it's unknown if the search will be successful, "we have to try. Thar's our commitment to these families."
Support is available for anyone affected by details of this case. If you require support, you can contact Ka Ni Kanichihk's Medicine Bear Counselling, Support and Elder Services at 204-594-6500, ext. 102 or 104 (within Winnipeg), or 1-888-953-5264 (outside Winnipeg).
Support is also available via Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak's Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Liaison unit at 1-800-442-0488 or 204-677-1648.
People outside Manitoba can call 1-844-413-6649, an independent, national, toll-free support call line that provides emotional assistance.
With files from The Canadian Press