On August 17, 2023, Union of Taxation Employees (UTE) members gathered at the Canadian Human Rights Museum to show their solidarity with our Indigenous members and First Nations communities in Manitoba and elsewhere in Canada. We held a demonstration in support of the families of three missing Indigenous women whose remains are presumed to be in the Prairie Green landfill, north of Winnipeg.
This was the first time a large group which was not an Indigenous organization, supported these families and they were incredibly grateful.
These families have been fighting to get the City of Winnipeg, its police force, the Manitoba government, and the federal government to provide the necessary funds and resources for the search.
On September 18th, Search the Landfills International Day of Action demonstrations were held in more than 20 cities across the country. I attended the demonstration held on Parliament Hill in Ottawa along with other UTE members and hundreds of supporters. We do not want to lose momentum. I have personally sent letters to the Premier of Manitoba, Heather Stefanson, the Mayor of Winnipeg, Scott Gillingham, the Winnipeg Chief of Police, Danny Smyth and the Minister for Crown-Indigenous relations Gary Anandasangaree.
I encourage you to contact the Premier of Manitoba, Heather Stefanson, the Winnipeg Mayor and councillors, the Manitoba MLAs, the Federal MPs, the NDP and especially the new minister for Crown-Indigenous relations, the Honorable Gary Anandasangaree.
Below is a sample of text you may use.
I support the families of the three missing Indigenous women whose remains are presumed to be in the Prairie Green landfill and strongly condemn the inaction of the various levels of government on this issue.
I am asking for the Prairie Green landfill to be searched for the remains of Morgan Harris, Marcedes Myran and an as-yet-unidentified victim known as Buffalo woman, three women who are believed to have been murdered by an alleged serial killer and dumped in the site north of Winnipeg.
I am calling on all levels of government to act immediately and show compassion for the families of the missing. The landfill should have been searched as soon as police knew that they had been put in a dumpster. Instead, each level of government passes the issue on, or gives up too quickly.
If this was a white man, or a celebrity or a politician would the landfill have been searched?
The families deserve to be respected and able to grieve with dignity and respect.
I am asking for your commitment to bring them home.
If you are posting on X (formerly known as Twitter) you can use the following hashtags #SearchTheLandfill #BringOurSistersHome #CampMorgan #CampMarcedes #WeAreNotTrash
You can support a petition to search the landfill here Petition · Demand a Thorough Search of Winnipeg Landfill for Missing Indigenous Women · Change.org
Other resources:
- Claims that safe landfill search isn't possible 'aren't necessarily based in fact': committee chair | CBC News
- Meeting with premier on landfill search for women's remains felt like 'slap in the face,' say families | CBC News
- https://www.ubcic.bc.ca/we_are_not_trash_ubcic_stands_with_manitoba_mmiwg2s_families_and_advocates
We strongly believe that unions have a role to play in social and human rights causes, and the Union of Taxation Employees is proud to demonstrate its support for the families of the missing Indigenous women whose remains are presumed to be in the Prairie Green landfill north of Winnipeg.
In Solidarity,
Marc Brière
National President
Union of Taxation Employees