Latest news with #MorgansWarriors
BBC News
2 days ago
- BBC News
BBC Audio Morgan's Warriors: The matriarch on a mission to protect
Melissa Robinson lost her cousin to a serial killer targeting indigenous women in the city of Winnipeg, Canada. When she learned that police didn't plan to search for any of the women's remains, she led her community in protests that swept the nation and forced her government's hand. In 2024 Jeremy Skibicki was given four life sentences for the murders of Morgan Harris, Marcedes Myran, Rebecca Contois and Ashlee Shingoose. When the verdict was announced, Melissa swore she would do all she could to stop this happening again. She formed a group called Morgan's Warriors, walking the streets where all these women were preyed upon. Reporter Brandi Morin has been to Winnipeg for Outlook to tell Melissa's story. This is just one chapter in a life that has always been about holding up those around her, often while surviving blow after blow. Melissa was recently made a Pipe Carrier by indigenous elders - a position honouring wisdom and ongoing spiritual leadership - but her journey here has been long. Melissa's story includes the impact of suicide and violence. But's not just been about survival, it's the tale of a matriarch finding her power, in her family and her community. If you'd like to tell us what you think, or share your experiences, please email us at outlook@ or send a voice note to WhatsApp +44 330 678 2707 Presenter: Asya Fouks Reporter: Brandi Morin Producer: Helen Fitzhenry (Image: Melissa Robinson in front of Brady Landfill at Camp Morgan, Winnipeg, Canada, 27 September 2023. Credit: The Washington Post via Getty Images)
CBC
09-07-2025
- Health
- CBC
Winnipeg's emergency services system leaves vulnerable people at risk, says outreach group
Social Sharing A Winnipeg outreach organization is questioning the city's emergency services system after a young woman was left waiting for an ambulance for three hours while experiencing a mental-health crisis on Saturday in the North End. In a statement posted to Facebook, Morgan's Warriors said group members encountered the woman, who was barefoot, limping and appeared to be in a state of psychosis, near Selkirk Avenue and Salter Street around 10:30 p.m. She had been reported to the group as missing from a First Nation in northeastern Manitoba last fall but was much thinner than the photo members had. Once they realized who it was, and learned the woman had a history of mental health issues and missing person reports, members called 911. A Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service truck arrived within minutes but the distressed woman began to wander away and the first responders never followed, according to the outreach group. The WFPS, in a statement to CBC News on Tuesday, said staff provides an "observational assessment" if a person flees from their crews. Wait for help during mental health emergency too long: outreach group 14 hours ago Duration 1:20 "If individuals decline assistance they must be competent and understand the risks associated with refusing assistance," the statement said. WFPS said crews typically call police if they believe a person is a danger to themselves or others. Members of Morgan's Warriors said they called 911 three more times after first responders left, until police showed up 30 minutes later. George Robinson, a search lead with the group that was at the scene on Saturday night, said members were "completely disregarded" once police arrived. "We had the feeling that we weren't wanted there. But we knew if we left, they would leave," he said. It was three hours before the ambulance arrived and the woman, who had been sitting agitated in the grass with police nearby, was taken to hospital around 1:30 a.m. Sunday. "I thank God all the time that we're out there. We're in places where [first responders] can't be and we've saved lives," said Morgan's Warriors founder Melissa Robinson, but "we just don't have enough people on the streets." Both Melissa and George Robinson said they would like to see communication between police, firefighters, paramedics and community services change, especially when it comes to missing persons cases. Despite her history of missing person reports, the woman had not been listed with the Winnipeg Police Service as missing at the time officers responded Saturday, the WPS told CBC News in an email Tuesday. Officers contacted the woman's family before she was transported to hospital, the WPS said. Melissa Robinson said that many families of missing Indigenous women have lost faith in the police and look elsewhere for help. Morgan's Warriors posts missing persons reports to their website on behalf of families looking for their loved ones. "Not everything that we post has an incident number, missing persons file number. We do it because family reaches out to us and because the police are of no help. The police won't file a report, and we hear that so often," she said. "You have families that don't even want to reach out to the police for assistance because they're not taking them seriously." George Robinson said the outreach group doesn't know where the woman is now, or if she's safe. The WFPS said it could not comment on its response as medical calls are covered under the confidentiality of the Personal Health Information Act. "We're still looking for her, still looking out for her. We won't give up, even if she did leave the hospital," George Robinson said.
