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Wednesday, Mar 12, 2025
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Identification of Remains of Indigenous Woman Unveils Tragic Murders Linked to Serial Killer in Canada
Morgan Harris’s remains confirmed at a landfill after extensive searches demanded by families of victims; serial killer Jeremy Skibicki sentenced to life.
Canadian police have confirmed the identification of the remains of Morgan Harris, a 39-year-old Indigenous woman, at the Prairie Green Landfill, located north of Winnipeg.
Additionally, human remains from another unidentified person were found in the same area during a months-long search initiated following public pressure from the victims' families and Indigenous advocacy groups.
The search for the remains was prompted after Jeremy Skibicki, a 37-year-old man, was convicted in July 2024 of murdering four women, including Harris, Rebecca Contois, Marcedes Myran, and an unidentified woman referred to as Mashkode Bizhiki’ikwe (Buffalo Woman) by Indigenous leaders.
Skibicki received a life sentence for these crimes.
The police report noted that Harris's remains were part of a duo discovered during the landfill search.
The identity of the second set of remains has yet to be disclosed.
Harris was last seen alive in 2022, with her murder being one in a series of violent acts that raised awareness of the issue of Indigenous women and girls who have been murdered or gone missing in Canada.
Estimates suggest that at least 4,000 Indigenous women and girls have been victims in recent decades, a statistic described in a 2019 report as indicative of a "genocide."
The police initially faced criticism for their reluctance to search the landfill due to limited resources and the complexities involved, as much of the waste was buried under significant amounts of clay.
Activism from the families of the victims and local Indigenous organizations led to heightened public awareness, resulting in a commitment of C$20 million (approximately $14.7 million) from authorities to support the searching efforts.
Cambria Harris, the daughter of Morgan Harris, has been vocal about the importance of recovering the remains of her mother and the other victims, highlighting the emotional toll of the situation on families affected by the violence.
In a post on social media, she described the identification of her mother's remains as a "bittersweet moment," urging communities to keep the families of the victims in their thoughts.
The harrowing cases have amplified discussions around systemic inequities and the disproportionate violence faced by Indigenous women, casting a spotlight on the broader issues of neglectful policies and societal indifference towards Indigenous communities in Canada.
Additionally, human remains from another unidentified person were found in the same area during a months-long search initiated following public pressure from the victims' families and Indigenous advocacy groups.
The search for the remains was prompted after Jeremy Skibicki, a 37-year-old man, was convicted in July 2024 of murdering four women, including Harris, Rebecca Contois, Marcedes Myran, and an unidentified woman referred to as Mashkode Bizhiki’ikwe (Buffalo Woman) by Indigenous leaders.
Skibicki received a life sentence for these crimes.
The police report noted that Harris's remains were part of a duo discovered during the landfill search.
The identity of the second set of remains has yet to be disclosed.
Harris was last seen alive in 2022, with her murder being one in a series of violent acts that raised awareness of the issue of Indigenous women and girls who have been murdered or gone missing in Canada.
Estimates suggest that at least 4,000 Indigenous women and girls have been victims in recent decades, a statistic described in a 2019 report as indicative of a "genocide."
The police initially faced criticism for their reluctance to search the landfill due to limited resources and the complexities involved, as much of the waste was buried under significant amounts of clay.
Activism from the families of the victims and local Indigenous organizations led to heightened public awareness, resulting in a commitment of C$20 million (approximately $14.7 million) from authorities to support the searching efforts.
Cambria Harris, the daughter of Morgan Harris, has been vocal about the importance of recovering the remains of her mother and the other victims, highlighting the emotional toll of the situation on families affected by the violence.
In a post on social media, she described the identification of her mother's remains as a "bittersweet moment," urging communities to keep the families of the victims in their thoughts.
The harrowing cases have amplified discussions around systemic inequities and the disproportionate violence faced by Indigenous women, casting a spotlight on the broader issues of neglectful policies and societal indifference towards Indigenous communities in Canada.
