Episode Details

In Winnipeg, a volunteer organization called Drag the Red searches the local river for the remains of missing and murdered Indigenous women. The group was established by community members after the discovery of Tina Fontaine, a teenager whose body was discarded in the water. Participants use specialized hooks to dredge the river bottom and receive guidance from forensic anthropologists to identify potential evidence. While the Winnipeg Police Service acknowledges the group’s mission, officials argue that the river's low visibility and dangerous conditions make professional searches a poor use of public resources. However, many families of the missing believe the authorities lack urgency and cultural sensitivity, viewing their own grassroots efforts as the only way to achieve closure. The high rates of violence against Aboriginal women in Canada highlight a systemic crisis that these volunteers strive to address through their persistent manual labor.

This episode includes AI-generated content.