Friends and family are remembering an Indigenous filmmaker and actor described by her family as a trailblazer after she died at an Alberta rodeo.
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she → remember → rodeo
Georgina Lightning was at the Enoch Park race track on Saturday night when she was hit by a horse.
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she → hit → horse
RCMP confirmed a woman died after a horse veered off the track and struck her.
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horse → confirm → her
Lightning’s family confirmed the filmmaker was the victim.
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filmmaker → confirm → ?
“I am shattered in every way possible,” Crystle Lightning, Georgina’s daughter, said on Facebook late Saturday.
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Lightning → shatter → Facebook
“I have lost my mother, my sons Kohkum, my matriarch, my role model, my confidant.
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I → lose → mother
That’s all I can say right now.
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I → ’ → ?
I’m wrecked.”
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I → wreck → ?
Lightning was in a designated media area when the incident happened, police said.
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police → designate → area
She died at the track.
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She → die → track
Enoch Cree Nation said in a statement that the community was in mourning following the loss of one of its members during the evening’s Indian relay event at the Enoch Rodeo Grounds on Saturday.
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community → say → Saturday
“Chief and Council extend our most sincere condolences to the family,” a statement from the office of Chief Cody Thomas.
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Chief → extend → Thomas
“Our community is grieving, and we are holding them in our thoughts and prayers.”
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we → grieve → thoughts
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The nation also said it was working with authorities as they conduct their investigation.
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they → get → investigation
Janine Windolph, director of Indigenous Arts at the Banff Centre, said in a post on Facebook she was shocked to hear about Lightning’s death.
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she → say → death
“She was an amazing talent, a matriarch and a supportive woman,” Windolph said.
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Windolph → say → ?
“No words… doesn’t feel real.
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words → feel → ?
Sending love and prayers to everyone who loved Georgina.”
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who → send → Georgina
Windolph recalled hosting Lightning for “Decolonizing the Narrative,” a conversation series held at the Banff Centre.
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Windolph → recall → Centre
She said Lightning was also a graduate of the Digital Constellations Residency: Production and Post-Production.
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Lightning → say → Residency
Tributes have been pouring in on social media for Lightning.
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Tributes → pour → Lightning
“Heartbroken to hear this news,” said MLA Janis Irwin (NDP – Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood).
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Irwin → hear → news
“I wish I had the right words.
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I → wish → words
Jennifer Podemski, a writer, showrunner, producer, director and member of the Muscowpetung Saulteaux Nation, said on Instagram that Lightning was her first role model.
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Lightning → say → Instagram
“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 wrote.
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Podemski → get → legend
“This tragic and sudden loss has rocked the entire Indigenous arts and cinema community to its core.”
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loss → rock → core
One of Lightning’s friends, Roberto Mukaro Borrero, called the filmmaker a “true soul sister.”
He said they met in 2015 and immediately connected.
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they → call → 2015
“Georgie was a shining star—a brilliant and courageous Cree storyteller, filmmaker, actor, producer, mentor, and tireless advocate for Indigenous Peoples,” Borrero wrote.
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Borrero → write → Peoples
“She broke barriers, opened doors, and used the power of storytelling to speak truths that too many had tried to silence.
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many → break → that
Yet beyond all she accomplished, Georgie was simply a beautiful and genuine human being: loving, spirited, funny, fierce, and unforgettable.”
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Georgie → accomplish → all
RCMP confirmed Alberta Occupational Health and Safety has taken over the investigation.
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Health → confirm → investigation
The relay races are planned to go ahead on Sunday, with a tribute to honour Lightning and her family.
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races → plan → Lightning
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