New Buffalo Woman in Winnipeg identified

An Indigenous woman found dead in a notorious Winnipeg hotel a year ago has been identified as Melanie McKay from northern Manitoba. Winnipeg police have said they do not suspect foul play in her death. “On August 16, Mashkode Bizhiki’ikwe iban (or Buffalo Woman) was identified as Melanie McKay, after her family was sent the social media post with the updated missing persons poster and drawing,” Giganawenimaanaanig said in a news release Tuesday. “Her sisters travelled to Winnipeg to claim her remains on August 18. While there are many reasons people may become estranged from their loved ones, we ask the community to treat the family with kindness as they grieve.” Giganawenimaanaanig is a provincial group of impacted family members, non-profit agencies, non-profit service-providing agencies, non-profit Indigenous political organizations and various levels of government working on the issue of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. The group worked with the Missing Persons Unit of the Winnipeg Police Service to help identify McKay. holding an initial news conference where they released a sketch of the woman last week. “We are deeply grateful to everyone in the community who shared the information, looked at the poster, gave thoughtful suggestions, and took the time to care about Melanie,” Giganawenimaanaanig added in the release. “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 was gifted the spirit name Mashkode Bizhiki’ikwe in Ojibway (or Buffalo Woman) with the blessing of the First Nations parents of Ashlee Shingoose, whose daughter was murdered by convicted serial killer Jeremy Skibicki in Winnipeg in 2022. Shingoose was the original Mashkode Bishiki’ikwe or Buffalo Woman. The name was chosen by Indigenous Elders who said it was a name for any woman who needed one. Shingoose was formally identified via DNA last winter. McKay is from Garden Hill First Nation, a remote fly-in community about 600 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg. She was a mother of five children, and the third oldest of six sisters, the release noted. The family has asked for privacy at this time. Meanwhile, Indigenous advocates had warned about unsafe living conditions and open drug use at the Manwin Hotel for years. It was closed earlier this year by the city for failing to make required improvements. Continue Reading