Indigenous actor, producer and director Georgina Lighting passed away at age 63 on Sunday, September 6.
In a heart-wrenching Facebook post, Lightning’s daughter, Crystle Lightning, confirmed the loss of her mother in a freak accident.
“I have lost my mother, my sons’ Kohkum, my matriarch, my role model, my confidant,” she wrote.”
CTV News reports that Lightning was attending a rodeo on the Canadian province of Alberta, where she was taking photos within a designated media area.
Alberta RCMP issued a statement to confirm that a horse had veered off track and struck Lightning. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Enoch Cree First Nation said in a Facebook post that Lightning died “following an incident at this evening’s Indian Relay event at the Enoch Rodeo Grounds.”
A Pioneer in Indigenous Cinema
Lightning made history as the first Indigenous woman in Canada to direct a feature film, 2008’s “Older Than Canada.”
As an actor, she was also familiar to television viewers in her native Canada. Among the TV series she appeared in are “Johnny Greyeyes,” “DreamKeeper,” “Blackstone” and “Trickster.”
She also appeared in serveral U.S. TV series, including “Alaska Daily,” “Three Pines” and “Rutherford Falls.”
In addition to “Older Than Canada,” Lightning also directed the 2021 TV series “The Secret History of the Wild West,” and had completed filming another feature, “Fantasies of Flying,” which was reportedly in post-production at the time of her passing.
Tributes to an Indigenous Icon
Among the many to mourn Lightning’s passing was Ashley Callingbull, an actress, model and TV host who held the title of Miss Universe Canada.
“This is so heartbreaking. She has done so much for the Indigenous community, her family and has even played a role in my life,” Callingbull posted on social media, via CTV News. “She built such a legacy and opened the door for so many people. My heart hurts for Crystle and the entire Lightning family.”
Leland Gladue, who described himself as Lightning’s adopted brother, descrived Lightning as “a spiritual, honourable, humble person who loved her grandkids with all her heart.”
“She’d never talk about herself yet she was this Indian celebrity who we needed so much,” Gladue told reporters at the Enoch rodeo grounds. “It hurts the heart, but all we can do is honour her name and remember her importance to Turtle Island.”
‘My First Role Model’
Actor and director Jennifer Podemski, who’s appeared in such TV series as “It: Welcome to Derry,” “Resident Alien” and “Reservation Dogs,” remembered Lightning as a mentor in a touching tribute.
“Georgina Lightning was my first role model,” wrote Podemski in an Instagram post.
“When I got into the business I knew something was broken and early in my journey I came upon the legend that was Georgina,” Podemski continued. “I was in awe of how she took control of her destiny. Called out the industry for its racism and erasure of Indigenous people and decided to do it herself while also raising a family. I didn’t get to meet her until my mid twenties and she was even more iconic than I imagined. She inspired me endlessly, encouraged me through hard times: Her legacy lives in her phenomenal children who are also legendary. My heart and prayers are with them and her beautiful grandchildren during this time. This tragic and sudden loss has rocked the entire Indigenous arts and cinema community to its core. Sending my love to everyone. Prayers up. Thank you Georgina for lighting the way for so many of us.”
