ManitobaA woman who was found dead at a Winnipeg hotel more than a year ago has been identified by her family as Melanie McKay, days after a new sketch of the previously unidentified woman was shared with the public.Family says Melanie McKay was woman given spirit name Mashkode Bizhiki’ikwe, or Buffalo Woman, last weekCBC News · Posted: Aug 19, 2025 5:56 PM EDT | Last Updated: 7 hours agoFamily of Melanie McKay have identified her as the woman who was found dead at the Manwin hotel on Winnipeg on Aug. 10, 2024. (Submitted by family)A woman who was found dead at a Winnipeg hotel more than a year ago has been identified by her family as Melanie McKay, days after a new sketch of the previously unidentified woman was shared with the public.Last week, Giganawenimaanaanig — Manitoba’s MMIWG2S+ implementation committee — and Winnipeg police said they were still trying to identify the woman, but that she had been given the spirit name Mashkode Bizhiki’ikwe, or Buffalo Woman, during a ceremony.On Saturday, McKay’s family identified her after they were sent a social media post with an updated sketch of the woman, which was shared by Winnipeg police at a news conference hosted by Giganawenimaanaanig last Thursday.”We are deeply grateful to everyone in the community who shared the information,” Giganawenimaanaanig said in a Tuesday news release, thanking the public for their help.”You were the heart of this effort in bringing her home and giving this family answers. In just 48 hours, the information reached her family, all because of you.”McKay, who was from Garden Hill First Nation in northern Manitoba, was the third-oldest of six sisters and a mother of five children, according to Giganawenimaanaanig.She was found dead on Aug. 10, 2024, at the Manwin Hotel building on Main Street. Although foul play was not suspected in her death, Winnipeg police previously said no one at the hotel knew who she was or where she had come from.Police had released a sketch last September in hopes of identifying her. They released the new sketch last week along with additional identifying details.Family members were able to identify McKay after Giganawenimaanaanig and Winnipeg police released new information last week. (Zubina Ahmed/CBC)McKay’s sisters travelled to Winnipeg to claim her remains on Monday, Giganawenimaanaanig said. The organization asked for privacy for McKay’s family as they grieve.
Woman found dead at Winnipeg hotel last year identified by family days after sketch released
