The National Inquiry into Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls found that Indigenous women are six times more likely to be murdered than non-Indigenous women. Read this special report of Akshit Joshi…
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central Canada local women inIndigenous women) to a serial killer targeting police Arrested on Thursday. Police in Winnipeg announced late Thursday that they had charged Jeremy Skibicki, 35, with the murders of Long Plains First Nation’s Morgan Beatrice Harris, 39, and 26-year-old Mercedes Myran. Manitoba Shadow Justice Minister Nahanni Fontaine said on Twitter that she and others are feeling “anger, despair, disgust and unspeakable sadness” following the arrest of a “monster”.
Rise in crimes against natives
The political system here has promised to counter decades of violence against local people but has failed, leaving many unhappy. According to a survey conducted in February by the Canadian Center for Justice and Community Safety Statistics, “Natives face more discrimination than non-Indigenous and minority populations. In particular, 44 percent of First Nations people reported experiencing more discrimination, as did 24 percent of Métis and 29 percent of Inuit.
At least 4,000 indigenous women are believed to have been murdered or are missing in Canada in the past 30 years. However, the exact number of victims is not known. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told such families in 2019 that we will protect you further. Trudeau’s statement came after a landmark report said thousands of local women went missing due to “government inaction inspired by colonialism and colonial ideologies”.
What is crime?
The National Inquiry into Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls found that Indigenous women are six times more likely to be murdered than non-Indigenous women. The case was first registered against Jeremy Skibicki on 18 May. He was held in custody after 24-year-old Rebecca Kontois was found in a rubbish bin near an apartment. Kontois lived in Winnipeg but was a member of the O-chee-chak-ko-sipi First Nation, also known as Crane River.
Police had said at the time that it was possible that the number of people killed was higher. On Thursday, police said Skibicki has now been charged with first-degree murder in three other deaths. Police said that Morgan Beatrice Harris and Mercedes Mayran were murdered in the first week of May. Both of these women lived in Winnipeg and were members of the Long Plains First Nation.
What did the authority say?
Police said a fourth woman is unidentified but could be a local woman. It is possible that he was killed on or around March 15 last. Police did not say what evidence they had against Skibicki in case the bodies were not found. However, according to the police, DNA test will play an important role. He also did not say whether there was any connection between the woman and the alleged killer. Winnipeg Police Chief Danny Smith said, “Whenever there is a serial killing of any kind, it is always disturbing. We are serious about the investigation of missing and killed local women.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday evening, Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham said, “Just condoling is not enough. I am angry and sad. We have to do a lot more to protect this community.” Grand Chief Jerry Daniels of the Southern Chiefs Organization, which represents the community, said in a statement, “We will keep you alive in our thoughts and prayers. Our loved ones have been violently taken away from us.” Police in other areas of the country have recently faced accusations that they are over-surveilling local residents and under-investigating crimes against them.
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