Canadian serial killer given life sentence for murders of Indigenous women
GuardianJUL 11 2024
Indigenous Murder Victim's Remains Found in Manitoba Landfill
story
Above: Donna Bartlett, member of the Long Plains First Nation, holds a flower vase on Apr. 29, 2024, in Winnipeg, Canada, with a portrait of her slained granddaughter Marcedes Myran, who, along with Morgan Harris, was killed at the Prairie Green landfill. Image copyright: Sebastien St-Jean/Contributor/AFP via Getty Images
The Facts
Morgan Harris' remains were discovered at Prairie Green Landfill near Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, marking a significant development in a case involving four Indigenous women murdered by convicted killer Jeremy Skibicki in 2022.
The victims included Morgan Harris, 39, Marcedes Myran, 26, Rebecca Contois, 24, and an unidentified woman known as Buffalo Woman, with Skibicki receiving a life sentence without the possibility of parole for 25 years for their murders.
Initial searches were denied by authorities, with police citing hazardous conditions and a government study estimating costs up to C$184M (US$128M), but pressure from Indigenous leaders led to a joint federal-provincial funding commitment of C$40M (US$28M).
The Spin
Left narrative
Although Jeremy Skibicki was fortunately convicted, his murderous rampage highlights a broader crisis in Canada, where Indigenous women make up a startlingly high percentage of female homicides. With over 1K missing or murdered between 1980-2012, this vulnerable group faces systemic violence and discrimination. Canada must urgently invest more in safety, emergency services, and awareness to protect Indigenous women and girls.
Right narrative
Indigenous women do face a dire homicide crisis, with rates six times higher than non-Indigenous women. Yet, the Liberal government's soft-on-crime policies have worsened this by enabling repeat offenders' release, driving a violent crime surge since 2015. It appears the government is ignoring the fact that Indigenous perpetrators make up almost 90% of cases but get lighter charges and shorter sentences. This undermines justice and safety for all.
