Press Releases

Treaty One Territory, Manitoba – The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (AMC) is raising questions about statements made during a recent federal–provincial health funding announcement press conference. Premier Kinew’s remarks, which came to light during a Q&A session, suggested that a search of the Prairie Green Landfill would move forward this year. However, neither level of government has responded to the AMC’s Inter-Related Operational Planning Report, which was submitted on January 24, 2024, to formally establish the next steps in the process.

“Given the mandate from Long Plain First Nation, the AMC has been entrusted with leading the search and seeking the funding for these recovery efforts,” said AMC Grand Chief Cathy Merrick, “I have made it abundantly clear to all levels of government that they need to be directly engaged with my office on the recovery efforts. That is why my office is left wondering why comments made today by the Premier failed to include a family-first, trauma-informed approach and have ignored the role that I, as the Grand Chief of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs, play in advocating for Long Plain First Nation and the families on this issue.”

AMC and the families held a press conference on January 25, 2024, with the families and technical experts who worked on the Operational Report which acts as a blueprint for the safe and comprehensive completion of the search and recovery efforts for loved ones at the Prairie Green Landfill, primarily focusing on risk mitigation. The intent of this report was to expedite the funding required to begin the search and recovery operation for Morgan Harris, Marcedes Myran, and Buffalo Woman.  It also underscored the importance of federal and provincial support in initiating the search and recovery this year with two Critical Paths for the search: Normal and Accelerated. It was clearly articulated to both levels of government that a meeting needed to occur as soon as possible. 

“These families and the AMC have led this effort since day one,” continued Grand Chief Merrick, “We have completed the reports that were asked of us and yet neither the Premier nor Minister Anandasangaree have responded or asked to meet to figure out where we go from here.”

The AMC remains steadfast in its dedication to justice, accountability, and transparency, prioritizing families-first and trauma-informed approaches. “All levels of government must collaborate with the Harris and Myran families as well as the AMC in any and all discussions or announcements pertaining to the search and recovery efforts of Morgan Harris, Marcedes Myran, and Buffalo Woman,” concluded Grand Chief Merrick.

For more information, please contact:

Communications Team
Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs
Email:  media@manitobachiefs.com

About the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs

The AMC was formed in 1988 by the Chiefs in Manitoba to advocate on issues that commonly affect First Nations in Manitoba. AMC is an authorized representative of sixty-two of the 63 First Nations in Manitoba with a total of more than 172,000 First Nations citizens in the province, accounting for approximately 12 percent of the provincial population. AMC represents a diversity of Anishinaabe (Ojibway), Nehetho / Ininew (Cree), Anisininew (Ojibwe-Cree), Denesuline (Dene) and Dakota Oyate (Dakota) people.