The delay in the search at the landfill was discriminatory, the victims’ families say – Brandon Sun

WINNIPEG — Family members of two First Nations women whose remains are believed to be buried in landfills in the Winnipeg area have filed a human rights complaint against the city, saying it has not done enough to bring their loved ones home.

As the long-awaited search is expected to accelerate recovery efforts later this month, the complaint says the city’s initial refusal to search is discriminatory.

The statement said the city “systematically discriminates against” Indigenous women, girls, 2SLGBTQQIA+ and their families based on their “origin, gender identity, sexual orientation and gender without good faith and reasonable cause.”

The city’s decision not to search the landfill reflects a historical reluctance to investigate the deaths of Indigenous women, girls and LGBTQ people, according to the statement, which cited findings from the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.

“This practice sends a clear message to families and victims that governments and police agencies are indifferent to such violence,” the statement said.

City police and the former Tory provincial government have said a search of the dumpster is impossible, with the latter campaigning on that message last fall, including in an election ad suggesting they would “strongly oppose” the search.

A representative for the city of Winnipeg said Sunday that they are aware of the complaint but will not comment on the matter at this time.

Earlier this year, a separate complaint was filed against the Progressive Conservatives alleging human rights abuses over their advertising campaign.

Three complainants, all family members of the homicide victims, filed suit against the city. Among them is Sue Caribou, the aunt of Tanya Nepinak, who went missing in 2011. Police believe Nepinak was the victim of a murder, but she has never been found.

Police searched the Brady Road landfill for Nepinak’s body, but called off the search after a few days after finding no evidence.

The complaint, shared with the Free Press, alleges the city did not do enough to find Nepinak, who police believe was killed by convicted murderer Sean Lamb.

“The current juxtaposition of the provincial government agreeing to search for the remains of Marcedes Miran and Morgan Harris at the Prairie Green Landfill continues to re-traumatize the family of Tanya Nepinak as she is still reported missing despite police suspecting the whereabouts of her body and wastes resources. to find her,” the statement said.

The statement also refers to the remains of a still-unidentified woman, whom the community has named Mashkode Bijikiikwe, or the Bison Woman.

“The community is suffering because of Buffalo Woman. Knowing now that the Prairie Green Landfill is being raided and the lack of formal consideration of Buffalo Woman and Tanya Nepinak sends a clear message that the decision to raid is based on public scrutiny, not what is ethical, fair, just, and upholding the Human Rights Code .”

Lamb pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the 2013 cases of Carolyn Sinclair, 25, and Lorna Blacksmith, 18, but denied murdering Caribou’s niece.

Charges against Lamb in connection with Nepinak’s death were dropped.

The remains of Morgan Harris and Marcedes Miran are believed to be in the Prairie Green landfill northwest of the city. Harris’ family declined to comment on the complaint Sunday. Cambria Harris, Morgan’s daughter, filed a complaint against Tory in January.

Skibiki confessed to the murders of Harris, Miran, Rebecca Contois and Mashkode Bijiki’ikwe.

In July, Skibicki, 35, was found guilty of four counts of first-degree murder and is serving a life sentence.

A preliminary search at the Prairie Green site began in October, and recovery efforts are expected to ramp up this month, two years after Winnipeg police announced they would not be combing the dump.

Skibicki said he placed the remains of Harris and Meeran in a dumpster that city police later discovered on a two-acre lot at the Prairie Green site.

An asphalt surface has been laid on the territory, on which an all-weather platform will be installed to facilitate search operations.

Search leaders said the excavated material would be taken to a 40-foot-tall building, where two teams of 12 searchers would spread it “in a thin layer” and look for human remains or evidence that could help find the women’s bodies.

The province said the search could continue until 2026 and could involve excavating up to 10 meters of material.

The site also required a new access road and hydro transmission line, which were completed.

» Winnipeg Free Press