Actress Georgina Lightning has died aged 63 after an accident at a rodeo event she was filming for a documentary.
The Auf Wiedersehen, Pet star was pronounced dead at the scene after being treated by paramedics.
The Enoch Cree First Nation confirmed on Facebook that she had died ‘following an incident at this evening’s Indian Relay event at the Enoch Rodeo Grounds.’
Lightning had been shooting a documentary about the three-day relay event when she was reportedly hit by a horse that had veered off course.
She was taking photos from a media area when the horse hit her, with Alberta RCMP confirming police responded at 6.40pm on Saturday.
An investigation has been launched by Occupational Health and Safety, the province’s workplace-safety regulator.
Best known as Lainie Proudfoot in the comedy series Lightning was also a director, screenwriter, and First Nations activist.
In 2008, she released Older Than America, her directorial debut starring Bradley Cooper, which explores boarding schools’ impact on Native American families.
The film, which she also starred in, drew on her own school experiences and landed over 20 festival awards.
Lightning’s other credits include Johnny Greyeyes, DreamKeeper, Blackstone, Trickster, Three Pines and Alaska Daily.
Her three children – Crystle Lightning, Cody Lightning, and William Lightning – are also actors.
Crystle paid tribute to her mum, writing on social media: ‘I have lost my mother, my sons’ Kohkum, my matriarch, my role model, my confidant.’
Auf Wiedersehen, Pet co-star Tim Healy wrote on X: ‘RIP Georgina lovely lady and a joy to work with ❤️❤️❤️.’
Jodi Calahoo Stonehouse, a close friend, said: ‘She was doing what she loved, where she loved, and with who she loved.’