UK and Manitoba fund search for Indigenous women at landfill

The UK government and Manitoba's government have agreed to fund the investigation into the Prairie Green landfill in Winnipeg, where the bodies of missing women, likely victims of a serial killer, might be buried. The trial in his case is slated to begin in April.

Jeremy Skibicki, charged with the first-degree murder of Rebeka Contois, Morgan Harris, Marcedes Myran, may have many other unidentified victims - Canadian Indigenous women. Over the past few decades, numerous mysterious disappearances have occurred. The authorities have been accused of neglecting the disappearances of Indigenous and Inuit women.

It's believed that some of the women, of various ages, sought by their families could be runaways, but others might have been murdered by Skibicki or other perpetrators. The bodies of some individuals Skibicki has confessed to killing have not yet been found. It's suspected they were concealed at the private Prairie Green landfill.

To unravel this grim criminal case, Canadian authorities have allocated CAD 20 million (approximately £11.5 million). As reported by the British newspaper "Guardian", the police initially mentioned they lacked the resources to search the waste depot and investigate the potential presence of any bodies dumped by the serial killer.

The controversy even became a focal point of the election campaign. Public anger and frustration were ignited when the provincial government initially refused to finance the search. Experts have cautioned that the allocated sum might still be insufficient for the task, as the victims could be buried under tonnes of clay.

- Nonetheless, we're encouraged that we can now proceed, having the necessary funds to search every cubic yard of the relevant area. We're unsure if the searches will yield results, but we must try. Fulfilling our duty to the victims' families is paramount - stated Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew.

One significant challenge in searching the Prairie Green landfill is the presence of large quantities of asbestos. This hazardous material is generally encased in thick bags and buried in prepared pits. According to Canadian Press, up to approximately 712 tonnes of this dangerous substance could be present at the site.

In recent decades, at least 4,000 Indigenous women and girls have disappeared without a trace. Indigenous groups in Winnipeg have organized marches and road blockades for months, aiming to pressure officials into consenting to the search. The most recent demonstration occurred on 8 March, International Women's Day.

Source: "Guardian"