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.
Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew said he spent time with the families of Morgan Harris and Marcedes Myran at the Prairie Green landfill when the discovery was made. He later struggled to find words to describe the news.
"I don't think any of us are ever going to forget today," Kinew told reporters.
"I think all of us who were there — family, searchers, people from government such as myself — are still in the state of is this really happening."
Police have said they believe the remains of Harris and Myran — victims of a serial killer — ended up at the landfill in May 2022.
A search of the site, spearheaded by the provincial government, began in December after Winnipeg police refused to search the area over safety concerns.
Families of the women and Indigenous leaders in the province advocated for years for a search of the landfill, taking their fight to Parliament Hill and the steps of the Manitoba legislature.
The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs, which is working with the province on the search, thanked the families for their determination to make sure there was a search.
"Their voices, their advocacy and their love for their missing relatives have been the driving force behind these search efforts," Grand Chief Kyra Wilson said in a statement.
"While this discovery brings grief, it also reinforces our commitment to ensuring that no family is left without answers and that justice is served for our stolen sisters. We will continue to stand with the families and support them in their path toward healing and justice."
Kinew said when the suspected remains were found, the search was paused. Two search teams and two forensic anthropologists were brought in to try to make an identification. The families were informed and police were also called to the site.
RCMP said officers transported the remains to the chief medical examiner's office.
"There are strict procedures in place at the search facility to maintain the integrity of the investigation," an RCMP spokesperson said in an email.
Kinew said the identification process could take weeks, and the search would continue Thursday.
"The search technicians are really motivated to get back in there ... they want to help these families move ahead with healing," said the premier.
"This thing that has been so public and so long in the making — now we're at a stage where maybe we're going to be able to move forward with healing and closure. And I hope this is ultimately a healing process, first for these two families, but I hope this is healing for Manitoba and healing for Canada."
Gary Anandasangaree, the federal minister of Crown-Indigenous relations and northern affairs, called the discovery heartbreaking.
“While Manitoba continues to investigate, we must respect the privacy of the families during this difficult time. Words are cold comfort, but we remain committed to supporting them, working with Manitoba, and doing everything possible to combat this national crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people. We stand by for updates.”
Harris, Myran and two other Indigenous women were killed by 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.
In 2023, Kinew's NDP campaigned on a promise to search the landfill. Shortly after winning the provincial election, Kinew ensured there would be a search.
Police acknowledged Wednesday's discovery in a statement.
"Our thoughts go out to the MMIWG2S+ community and all families who are awaiting word on their missing loved ones," said interim Winnipeg police chief Arthur Stannard.
The government has said the search is expected to last until spring.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 26, 2025.
Brittany Hobson, The Canadian Press
