Horse Woman will be shown at the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre June 25 (submitted image)

By Pete McIntyre

'Horse Woman'

White Rock Lake fire film screening in Vernon

Jun 19, 2024 | 5:00 AM

An inspirational story surrounding the White Rock Lake wildfire three years ago, is about to be released in a documentary.

Horse Woman (sn̓kłca̓ʔsqáx̌aʔ tkłmílxʷ) is a film directed by local Syilx storyteller and artist Mariel Belanger.

It will be screened at the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre in the Marie Fleming Rom on June 25 at 7 p.m.

Admission will be by donation.

The film tells the story of Sienna and the three untouched wild horses who she saved from the historic White Rock Lake Fire in 2021 with the help of another inspirational horsewoman Cambie G. In turn, the horses saved Sienna and helped the healing begin with Sienna’s mother as well as reconnecting her to the land and giving her a newfound purpose.

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“I wanted to tell this story because it is important for us as Indigenous women to share and record our experiences. Our stories have resonance and this one can be felt by all,” Belanger, of Studio Sisplk Gallery Productions, said.

The film includes footage by local resident Francois Arsenault and shows some of the aftermath the fire left behind, a charred landscape that is now in the process of healing.

The film is assistant directed by Victoria Jaenig of Ullus Collective, co-produced by Keli Westgate with cinematography by Darko Sikman and edited by Joseph Pinheiro of Phreeagent Creative.

This film was made possible with a production grant by TELUS STORYHIVE as part of their Indigenous Storyteller Edition and will be available to view on Telus Optik TV on Demand in November.