Manitoba Chiefs seek landfill search for missing victim

The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs is urging for the continued search of a landfill in Manitoba for the remains of Mashkode Bizhiki'ikwe, an unidentified victim of a Winnipeg serial killer. Grand Chief Kyra Wilson expressed her appreciation for the discovery of the remains of two other victims, Marcedes Myran and Morgan Harris, but emphasized the importance of finding the remains of Buffalo Woman to provide closure to her family. Mashkode Bizhiki'ikwe is one of four Indigenous women murdered by Jeremy Skibicki in 2022. Skibicki confessed to the killings during police questioning. He described Bazaar Woman as being in her early 20s and mentioned that he killed her shortly after COVID-19 restrictions were lifted in Manitoba in March 2022. While the province has confirmed the recovery of Myran's remains, Premier Wab Kinew did not indicate if the search for Buffalo Woman would continue. The decision will involve discussions among government officials and the families of the victims. Manitoba's Families Minister, Nahanni Fontaine, stated that the priority remains to bring Harris and Myran home. Police have not confirmed where Mashkode Bizhiki'ikwe's remains might be located, leading to uncertainty about whether they could be at the Prairie Green landfill or another site. Efforts to search for her are ongoing, with community members advocating for the search. Experts suggest that if the location of the garbage truck that collected her remains is known, the search should continue. However, safety concerns for search crews must also be addressed. Wilson emphasized the importance of not leaving anyone behind and expressed hope amidst the sadness of finding the remains of the other women. Support services for those affected by this issue are available through various organizations.