Family of Tanya Nepinak still calling for justice, as anniversary of disappearance approaches

Next weekend will mark 13 years since Tanya Nepinak went missing and family members of Nepinak are still calling for justice.

In October of 2012, Winnipeg police started searching the Brady Road Landfill for Susan Caribou’s niece, Tanya, but never found anything.

“Tanya had a beautiful heart. She wouldn’t harm anybody,” said Caribou.

Nepinak went to get pizza and never returned home. She was in her late 20s at the time of her disappearance.

“I’ve been wanting the Brady Landfill to be searched. When you leave human remains at a landfill, and you bring only a bit to just get the DNA and you leave those human remains there, it becomes a crime scene and they should close it.”

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Last week, Jeremy Skibicki was handed four life sentences for the 2022 murders of Morgan Harris, Marcedes Myran, Rebecca Contois and Buffalo Woman. Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew told media last Thursday that the province is ready to begin a search of the Prairie Green Landfill in October. Caribou says this gives her hope that they could one day search the Brady Road Landfill.

“Even if we could just find Tanya’s remains. I have a lot of hope and I have been praying that Tanya won’t be forgotten. She is a human being that deserves the same treatment as any human being that has been murdered and their remains are at the landfill,” she explained.

Caribou has dealt with extreme tragedy her whole life. Around a dozen of her family members have been murdered or are still missing.

“We have been living without a closure for many years and it still hurts. I cry for Tanya remembering her how happy and beautiful she was. We miss her so much. We want her home,” said Caribou.

“I want my sister to know, before she passes, that we brought Tanya home.”

A walk in honour of Tanya will be held on Saturday, September 14 starting at Ellice & Sherbrook and ending at The Forks.