Latest news with #MashkodeBizhiki'ikwe
CBC
28-03-2025
- CBC
Parents decide Ashlee Shingoose will continue to be known as Mashkode Bizhiki'ikwe
The father of a woman recently identified as the victim of a Winnipeg serial killer has decided she will continue to be known as Mashkode Bizhiki'ikwe. Indigenous community members, including a group of advocates, knowledge keepers and grandmothers, bestowed Ashlee Shingoose the name, which translates to Buffalo Woman, when she was the sole unidentified murder victim of Jeremy Skibicki. Shingoose, a mother of three, was among the four First Nations women killed by Skibicki between March and May 2022, along with Morgan Harris, 39, and Marcedes Myran, 26 — both originally from Long Plain First Nation — as well as Rebecca Contois, 24, a member of O-Chi-Chak-Ko-Sipi First Nation. The first of Skibicki's victims, Shingoose, was unidentified for years, but DNA results stemming from new information provided by Skibicki in December helped Winnipeg police confirm the 30-year-old from St. Theresa Point Anisininew Nation was Mashkode Bizhiki'ikwe. Roughly 60 people, including elders and MMIWG2S+ advocates came together around a community fire on Thursday, some of them drumming, chanting and feeding the flames with tobacco wrapped in red cloth, to remember Shingoose and support her family. After the ceremony, Thelma Morrisseau, one of the grandmothers who took part in the late 2022 ceremony to give Shingoose a name before she was identified, told Shingoose's parents they could choose for Ashlee to continue to be known as Mashkode Bizhiki'ikwe. WATCH | Ashlee Shingoose's father accepts Thelma Morrisseau's invitation: Ashlee Shingoose's father wishes her daughter continue to be known as Mashkode Bizhiki'ikwe 32 minutes ago Duration 1:01 Indigenous community members named Shingoose 'Mashkode Bizhiki'ikwe' or Buffalo Woman, when Winnipeg police couldn't identify her after she was murdered by a Winnipeg serial killer in 2022. "That's your decision, and the way we had intended is that she would walk with that name for as long as she needed, or forever and into the spirit world if that is your wish," she said. Albert Shingoose, Ashlee's father, told the crowd her daughter would carry the name, and those who came for the community fire erupted in chants inside the Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre. Albert and his wife, Theresa Shingoose, also thanked those at the ceremony and the community at large for helping their family go "the long way," acknowledging that if it wasn't for the support, they wouldn't have made it thus far. "It's overwhelming for me," Theresa Shingoose, Ashlee's mother, said. "It feels that I've known you for a long time." "It was a hard journey, wondering where my daughter is, always waiting for her, hoping … but we know now," she said. Premier Wab Kinew, who was also at the ceremony, acknowledged Shingoose's family for how, in spite of grieving the loss of their daughter, they have found ways to honour the community and the support it has given them. "To me, that's just the spirit of generosity that they bring forward," Kinew said. "They're talking about gratitude … these are wonderful people." The premier reiterated his promise of searching the Brady Road landfill, where Winnipeg police said Shingoose's remains are believed to be. Sandra DeLaronde, chair of Giganawenimaanaanig Manitoba's MMIWG2S+ implementation committee, who was also at Thursday's community fire, said that while there is a sense of muted gratitude, there's also frustration over why it took so long for the family to find answers. "Everybody should have their loved ones returned to them," Delaronde said, adding she's happy the family won't have to fight for the landfill to be searched.
CBC
28-03-2025
- CBC
Ashlee Shingoose's father wishes her daughter continue to be known as Mashkode Bizhiki'ikwe
Indigenous community members named Shingoose 'Mashkode Bizhiki'ikwe' or Buffalo Woman, when Winnipeg police couldn't identify her after she was murdered by a Winnipeg serial killer in 2022.
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Yahoo
Name of serial killer victim Mashkode Bizhiki'ikwe to be released by police today
WARNING | This story contains details of violence against Indigenous women. Winnipeg police say they will confirm the identity of the unidentified victim of a serial killer at a news conference Wednesday afternoon. The news conference will be livestreamed here at 1 p.m. The woman was given the name Mashkode Bizhiki'ikwe, or Buffalo Woman, by members of the Indigenous community, since her remains have never been found and she had not been identified. She was among the four Indigenous women murdered by Jeremy Skibicki in 2022, along with Morgan Harris, 39, Marcedes Myran, 26, and Rebecca Contois, 24. Police initially said their news conference would focus on their investigation into the unidentified woman's killing, and later said they would confirm the woman's identity. Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew, Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham, Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs Grand Chief Kyra Wilson, St. Theresa Point Anisininew Nation Chief Raymond Flett and Chief Gene Bowers and Deputy Chief Cam Mackid of the Winnipeg Police Service are scheduled to speak at the news conference, police said. The update comes after remains recently found at Prairie Green landfill, north of Winnipeg, were confirmed to be those of Harris and Myran, both of whom were originally from Long Plain First Nation. Police have previously declined to say whether they have information about where the remains of Mashkode Bizhiki'ikwe are, or whether they may be at Prairie Green or the city-run Brady Road landfill in Winnipeg, where some of the remains of Contois, a member of O-Chi-Chak-Ko-Sipi First Nation, were found. When asked last week, Premier Wab Kinew did not answer questions about whether a search would continue at Prairie Green landfill in hopes of finding Mashkode Bizhiki'ikwe's remains. The province's decision about the future of the landfill search will be made with the families of Harris and Myran, he said. Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs Grand Chief Kyra Wilson told CBC News last week that the organization will push for a continued search to try to find Mashkode Bizhiki'ikwe. What do we know about Mashkode Bizhiki'ikwe? Very few details about Mashkode Bizhiki'ikwe have been made public. During Skibicki's trial last summer, court heard investigators found a DNA sample on a jacket they believe the woman wore, but that sample was never matched to anyone. Skibicki unexpectedly confessed to killing the four women during a police interview in May 2022. He said the unidentified woman was the first he killed, in mid-March 2022. It's believed he killed the other three women between May 1 and May 15. Skibicki said he met her outside the Salvation Army shelter in Winnipeg. There was still snow on the ground at the time, and COVID-19 pandemic restrictions had just been lifted in Manitoba, he told police. Those restrictions were lifted on March 15, 2022. He described the woman as being Indigenous and in her early 20s, with dark patches on her skin, an average build and short hair that didn't go past her neck. Skibicki also said he was coming down from being high on mushrooms when he got upset with the woman after she attempted to steal from him. After killing her, Skibicki said he put the woman's remains into a dumpster behind a business on Henderson Highway. He also gave police the name of a person he believed was the woman he had killed, but that person was later found alive. He said after killing Harris, he returned to that same dumpster with the intention of leaving her remains inside, but it was locked. He said he disposed of Harris's and Myran's remains at another dumpster nearby, which led to their bodies being taken to the Prairie Green landfill. Contois's partial remains were found in garbage bins behind a North Kildonan apartment on May 16, 2022, and later at the Brady Road landfill in Winnipeg. Support is available for anyone affected by these reports and the issue of missing and murdered Indigenous people. Immediate emotional assistance and crisis support are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week through a national hotline at 1-844-413-6649. You can also access, through the government of Canada, health support services such as mental health counselling, community-based support and cultural services, and some travel costs to see elders and traditional healers. Family members seeking information about a missing or murdered loved one can access Family Information Liaison Units.
CBC
26-03-2025
- CBC
Name of serial killer victim Mashkode Bizhiki'ikwe to be released by police today
Social Sharing WARNING | This story contains details of violence against Indigenous women. Winnipeg police say they will confirm the identity of the unidentified victim of a serial killer at a news conference Wednesday afternoon. The news conference will be livestreamed here at 1 p.m. The woman was given the name Mashkode Bizhiki'ikwe, or Buffalo Woman, by members of the Indigenous community, since her remains have never been found and she had not been identified. She was among the four Indigenous women murdered by Jeremy Skibicki in 2022, along with Morgan Harris, 39, Marcedes Myran, 26, and Rebecca Contois, 24. Police initially said their news conference would focus on their investigation into the unidentified woman's killing, and later said they would be confirming the woman's identity. Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew, Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham, Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs Grand Chief Kyra Wilson, St. Theresa Point Anisininew Nation Chief Raymond Flett and Chief Gene Bowers and Deputy Chief Cam Mackid of the Winnipeg Police Service are scheduled to speak at the news conference, police said. The update comes after remains recently found at Prairie Green landfill, north of Winnipeg, were confirmed to be those of Harris and Myran, both originally from Long Plain First Nation. Police have previously declined to say whether they have information about where the remains of Mashkode Bizhiki'ikwe are, or whether they may be at Prairie Green or the city-run Brady Road landfill in Winnipeg, where some of the remains of Contois, a member of O-Chi-Chak-Ko-Sipi First Nation, were found. When asked last week, Premier Wab Kinew did not answer questions about whether a search would continue at Prairie Green landfill in hopes of finding Mashkode Bizhiki'ikwe's remains. The province's decision on the future of the landfill search will be made with the families of Harris and Myran, he said. Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs Grand Chief Kyra Wilson told CBC News last week that the organization will push for a continued search to try to find Mashkode Bizhiki'ikwe. Support is available for anyone affected by these reports and the issue of missing and murdered Indigenous people. Immediate emotional assistance and crisis support are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week through a national hotline at 1-844-413-6649. You can also access, through the government of Canada, health support services such as mental health counselling, community-based support and cultural services, and some travel costs to see elders and traditional healers. Family members seeking information about a missing or murdered loved one can access Family Information Liaison Units.
CBC
25-03-2025
- CBC
Police to give update on Mashkode Bizhiki'ikwe, unidentified victim of Winnipeg serial killer
WARNING | This story contains details of violence against Indigenous women. Winnipeg police say they'll provide an update Wednesday on their investigation into the murder of a still-unidentified Indigenous woman by a serial killer three years ago. The woman was given the name Mashkode Bizhiki'ikwe, or Buffalo Woman, since her remains have never been found and she has yet to be identified. She was among the four Indigenous women murdered by Jeremy Skibicki in 2022, along with Morgan Harris, 29, Marcedes Myran, 26, and Rebecca Contois, 24. Police said their 1 p.m. Wednesday news conference will focus on their investigation into the unidentified woman's killing, but did not go into further detail. The news conference will be livestreamed at The update comes after remains recently found at Prairie Green landfill, north of Winnipeg, were confirmed to be those of Harris and Myran, both of whom were originally from Long Plain First Nation. Police have previously declined to comment on whether they have information about where the remains of Mashkode Bizhiki'ikwe are, or whether they may be at Prairie Green or the city-run Brady Road landfill in Winnipeg, where some of remains of Contois, a member of O-Chi-Chak-Ko-Sipi First Nation, were found. When asked last week, Premier Wab Kinew did not answer questions on whether a search would continue at Prairie Green landfill in hopes of finding Mashkode Bizhiki'ikwe's remains. The province's decision on the future of the landfill search, which began excavations in December, will be made with the families of Harris and Myran, he said. Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs Grand Chief Kyra Wilson told CBC News last week that the organization will push for a continued search to try to find Mashkode Bizhiki'ikwe. What do we know about Mashkode Bizhiki'ikwe? Very few details about Mashkode Bizhiki'ikwe have been made public. DNA tests on a jacket it's believed she wore were not enough to identify the woman, court heard during Skibicki's trial last summer, which led to his conviction on four counts of first-degree murder. Court heard that during a May 2022 police interview, he confessed to killing the four women. He said the unidentified woman was the first he killed, in mid-March 2022. It's believed he killed the other three women between May 1 and May 15. Skibicki said he met her outside the Salvation Army shelter in Winnipeg. There was still snow on the ground at the time, and COVID-19 pandemic restrictions had just been lifted in Manitoba, he told police. Those restrictions were lifted on March 15, 2022. He described the woman as being Indigenous and in her early 20s, with dark patches on her skin, an average build, and short hair that didn't go past her neck. Skibicki also said he was coming down from being high on mushrooms when he got upset with the woman after she attempted to steal from him. After killing her, Skibicki said he put the woman's remains into a dumpster behind a business on Henderson Highway. He also gave police the name of a person he believed was the woman he had killed, but that person was later found alive. He said after killing Harris, he returned to that same dumpster with the intention of leaving her remains inside, but it was locked. He said he disposed of Harris and Myran's remains at another dumpster nearby, which led to their bodies being taken to the Prairie Green landfill. Contois's partial remains were found in garbage bins behind a North Kildonan apartment on May 16, 2022. That's also the day police say they believe the remains of Harris and Myran were transported to Prairie Green. Support is available for anyone affected by these reports and the issue of missing and murdered Indigenous people. Immediate emotional assistance and crisis support are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week through a national hotline at 1-844-413-6649.
