This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 12, 2023.Kristie Bakken One of the rescued dogs at the landfillĪccording to the Bakkens, Jeremy's coworker was at a landfill in southern Montana dumping trash when they noticed several dogs rummaging through the garbage. “Every time we go through another milestone on this it, it’s a reminder on the horrific situation that we’re dealing with.” Premier Heather Stefanson said she had not seen the report and her heart goes out to the families. It recommends mandatory GPS tracking systems and rear-facing cameras in garbage trucks in Canada, as well as surveillance video installed at entrances and exits at landfills. The study also calls for increased funding for social supports and homeless shelters. In order to proceed with a search, Prairie Green would need to submit a proposal to a regulatory body to approve the excavation and transportation of materials. The committee says using a conveyor belt to search through debris would be the best option. Hazardous materials teams are recommended to be on site at all times to monitor air quality, act as safety officers and perform decontamination of personnel who are in an excavation pit or working closely with excavated materials. Some of the biggest concerns outlined in the report were around health and safety. The contents of the dumpster were sent to the Prairie Green Landfill on May 16. Police believe the women’s remains were left in a garbage bin three days apart in early May 2022, says the report. Merrick said she is optimistic Ottawa will fund the search. Ottawa provided $500,000 to the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs for the study. It could take between one and three years and would cost $84 million to $184 million. It’s not guaranteed a search would locate the remains, says the study. But police said they would not be searching the site because of the passage of time and the large volume of material deposited there. Winnipeg police said in December that they believed the remains of Harris and Myran are in the landfill north of the city. “We know how atrocious and how difficult this is for the families and we will do whatever we can to help.” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government will support in the grieving and healing process. And if you’re going to support us, we’re grateful for that. We are going to do that work with or without (government). Long Plain Chief Kyra Wilson said abandoning a search is not an option. We’re going to bring our women home.”īoth of the women were members of Long Plain First Nation in southwestern Manitoba. Melissa Normand, a cousin of Harris, said she was “appalled” by the minister. The family of Harris criticized Miller for asking during a phone call this week where they stood on a possible search. But, as the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs said, what signal do you send if you don’t search for First Nations bodies that have been disposed as if they were trash, which they are absolutely not? They’re sacred and they are to be honoured,” he said. “Yes, it’s a substantial amount of money. “It breaks my heart that I don’t have a grave to take my niece and nephew to this Mother’s Day.”įederal Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Marc Miller said he hoped to meet with the families in the next couple of weeks to look at next steps after his office looks over the report. Myran’s sister Jorden Myran said there shouldn’t be a question of searching the landfill or not. “We have no place to go to send our condolences or pay our respects to our mothers who we have lost,” she said. “The impact of not conducting a search and humanitarian recovery for remains of Morgan and Marcedes, when it is possible that they are in the Prairie Green Landfill, could have long-lasting repercussions on the families, friends, loved ones and First Nations and Indigenous communities in Manitoba and across Canada,” the report says.Ĭambria Harris, who took her rage to Parliament Hill in December and demanded governments take the issue of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls more seriously, said Friday she has no place to lay flowers down for her mother. But it says forgoing a search could be more harmful for the families of Morgan Harris and Marcedes Myran. It warns there are risks due to exposure to toxic chemicals and asbestos.
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