Human rights complaint filed against city of Winnipeg over search of landfills

The families of two first nations women whose remains are believed to be in landfills in the Winnipeg area have filed a human rights complaint against the city, saying not enough was done to bring their loved one’s home.

“Why are they leaving human remains with the trash, our family is not trash,” said Sue Caribou, Aunt of Tanya Nepinak.

Caribou, whose niece Tanya Nepinak went missing in 2011, is one of those behind the complaint. 

 At the time of her niece’s disappearance, police believed her body had been buried somewhere in Winnipeg’s Brady Road Landfill.

“Tanya is still out there, she still hasn’t had justice,” said Caribou.

A police search of the Brady road site for Nepinak’s remains in 2012 lasted just a few days before being called off on the same date of Tanya’s birthday. 

 A memory that has haunted Caribou, one that left her and her family feeling like they had given up.

“We didn’t celebrate anymore, it was such a reminder that they gave up on her.  And they were going to leave her at the landfill like trash,” said Caribou.

The new complaint also alleges the City of Winnipeg discriminated against Morgan Harris, and an unidentified women known as Buffalo Woman, both victims of serial killer Jeremy Skibicki in 2022. 

For Caribou, she continues to hold out hope that Tanya will be found and hopes the complaint will lead to further searches of the Winnipeg landfills.

“Bring the human remains from the landfills home, they deserve dignity,” said Caribou.

A spokesperson from the city, confirmed Friday they are aware of the complaint and have no comment on it.