A woman with fire in her heart and the soul of a UFC boxer.
That's how Cambria Harris remembers her mother Morgan. The 39-year-old from Long Plain First Nation was one of four women murdered by a suspected serial killer and dumped in a landfill north of Winnipeg in the spring of 2022. More than a year later her remains are still buried in the sprawling garbage dump as police maintain it's not "operationally feasible" to search for them.
Morgan's story and tragic end were front and centre at the launch of the London Abused Women's Centre's (LAWC) annual Shine the Light on Woman Abuse Campaign on Friday. She, along with domestic abuse survivor Renée Kowalchuk, are this year's campaign honourees.
"My mom, Morgan Harris, was a mother of five. She gave birth to me at the age of 18," Cambria, who flew from Manitoba to London for the launch, told a packed room at LAWC's headquarters on York Street. "My mom loved to sing. Her favourite song was 'Truly Madly Deeply' by Savage Garden. She sang that in love of her kids."
A victim of the Sixties Scoop, Morgan grew up in foster care. As an adult she struggled with mental health and addiction issues and homelessness. Much of her struggles could be traced back to the trauma she faced as a child. Her own children were taken away from her, but she still made every effort to continue to be in their lives.
"She loved being a mom. Walking us to school, taking us to parks... She was always there for me regardless of what she was going through," said Cambria.
When Cambria learned of her mother's fate and that no effort would be made to recover her body in December 2022, she said she went through a wide range of emotions.
"Anger, frustration, and sadness all flooded me. Confusion why Indigenous women aren't worth looking for," said Cambria. "My mother Morgan currently lies in a man-made landfill, a crime scene and a burial site. All the while I watch excavators and city dump trucks continue to profit off my mother's body. Making money off the sacred ground her body lays on."
Since the Winnipeg Police Service announced it would not search the private landfill for Morgan's remains and those of another woman believed to have been killed by the same man, Cambria has been holding rallies and meeting with politicians. Her family set up a camp outside the Prairie Green Landfill. The camp named "Camp Morgan" has been in place for more than 300 days.
"We said we would bring her home no matter what. So I went toe-to-toe with all levels of government and here I am," said Cambria. "It is frustrating to have to sit in a million different rooms with different politicians from all levels of government over and over again with only words of affirmation and no action. It makes me feel like they don't take my mother seriously, they don't see her as a human being."
Cambria added that she will continue fighting until the landfill is searched.
There are signs the federal and provincial governments are starting to listen. LAWC Executive Director Jennifer Dunn said Manitoba's new premier said earlier this month that it is important to deliver on a search. While in Ottawa recently, Dunn was also told the federal government plans to put $740,000 toward further review of a possible search of the landfill.
"Women are not disposable. We must continue to support our families and survivors and honour those we have lost, said Dunn. "We hope there is more done than just a review and a possible search."
A commemorative silent witness silhouette in honour of Morgan was unveiled at the Shine the Light launch. It will be placed at the Tree of Hope in Victoria Park on November 1. That is also where Kowalchuk will share her story of survival.
Created in London in 2010, Shine the Light aims to cast a spotlight on the issue of men's violence against women. During its month-long run, buildings throughout the city and country are bathed in purple light. The colour purple is a symbol of courage, survival, and honour. Over the years the campaign has gone from being about local awareness, to a national and international initiative.
Over the past year, the London Abused Women's Centre has provided more than 11,700 service interactions. That included more than 4,000 individual counselling or urgent support interactions and over 7,716 phone calls for service.
"These numbers are the highest they have ever been, which proves more why we need a campaign like this - for conservations to continue to happen and awareness to be raised," said Dunn.
Shine the Light key dates scheduled throughout the month of November can be found on LAWC's website.
