Lake St. Martin Responds to the Devastating Loss of Linda Mary Beardy
April 6, 2023
Treaty One Territory, Manitoba
AMC Communications
Treaty One Territory, Manitoba – Lake St. Martin First Nation is devastated that the body of member Linda Mary Beardy was found in Winnipeg’s Brady Landfill after being forcibly displaced by Manitoba and the federal government.
It has been extremely traumatizing for Lake St. Martin First Nation citizens to learn that Linda Beardy’s body was thrown away like trash in Brady Landfill. Unfortunately, this is yet another among many murders of which First Nations women and girls (MMIWG2S+) have been thrown into Winnipeg’s landfills. Earlier this afternoon, the Winnipeg Police Service (WPS) said that Linda crawled into the bin, insinuating she then passed out. “This is discrimination against Anishinabek to make that assumption,” said Chief Chris Traverse. “Why haven’t the police made a release that there was a report of a man trying to dump a body into a dumpster earlier Friday morning of the 31st? Why aren’t they sharing and acting on those tips? I think they are trying to avoid a proper investigation.”
According to government officials, Winnipeg is the ground zero for MMIWG2S+. Due to racism and misogyny, shelters are now considered hunting grounds for predators like Jeremy Skibicki, and the justice system overlooks our fundamental human rights. Keeping these landfills accessible to predators and giving the message that government and police won’t search them for our MMIWG2S+ perpetuates the cycle to continue.
Linda Mary Beardy was a young mother, a daughter, an aunt, a sister, a friend, and a member of Lake St. Martin First Nation. In addition to other women and girls who are still sadly uncounted for, we will never forget her. Cultural genocide and ethnic cleansing are ongoing across Turtle Island due to the residential schools’ ripple effect.
As a student and evacuee during the 2011 forced displacement of Lake St. Martin First Nations, Linda Beardy’s death is directly related to MMIWG2S+. However, Canada continues to turn a blind eye while neglecting the need for funding to end this epidemic and to provide First Nations Leaders with decision-making authority regarding the use of this money.
“It will never be possible for Linda to experience or live in her newly created Nation of Lake St. Martin,” said Chief Chris Traverse. “Instead, she will be brought home in a coffin, like many others who never made it home. I extend my deepest condolences and want it to be acknowledged that Canada has failed to protect the rights of Anishanabek in this beautiful country.”
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 62 of the 63 First Nations in Manitoba with a total of more than 151,000 First Nation citizens in the province, accounting for approximately 12 percent of the provincial population. AMC represents a diversity of Anishinaabe (Ojibway), Nehetho / Ininew (Cree), Anishininew (Ojibwe-Cree), Denesuline (Dene) and Dakota Oyate (Dakota) people.