Cody Lightning, a Cree actor and filmmaker, was the sole Indigenous member of a local sports team known as ‘The Indians’ during his childhood.
His newest feature film, Smudge the Blades, is set to debut at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 12.
The film is inspired by his own coaching experiences and explores the challenges faced by Indigenous youth in sports, blending humor with impressive hockey skills showcased by the cast.
Hailing from Edmonton, Lightning emphasized that sports serve as a significant outlet for youth in Treaty 6, which makes the film resonate with many viewers.
“The reason these actors and hockey players connected with the material is that it reflects reality. It’s authentic,” he remarked.
Lightning, recognized for his portrayal of young Victor in Smoke Signals, also wrote, directed, and starred in Hey Viktor! released in 2023.
His latest film chronicles the journey of the Treaty 6 Blades, an underperforming U-18 team comprised of teenage boys and one girl, guided by a Zamboni driver-turned-coach, a role played by Lightning himself.
He shared that the film took nearly ten years to bring to fruition and was initially envisioned as a comedy. However, serious issues such as racism, sexual assault, and substance abuse faced by a team of underdogs from the reservation shifted its tone to a dramedy.
Lightning aims to highlight both the harsh realities and the “brotherhood and sisterhood” that unify the team. He noted that he employs humor “as a coping mechanism and safety net” in his creative endeavors and personal life.
Smudge the Blades highlights the experiences of Indigenous youth in hockey. (TIFF)
According to Lightning, “We face numerous battles and challenges that others may not encounter, but they strengthen us.”
“Without my sense of humor, I would be quite miserable and depressed, plain and simple. I must express that in my work. Regardless of whether it’s a heavy subject, there’s always room for laughter.”
Paulina Alexis, portraying tomboy Jaycee Pipestem—the only girl on the team—found it easy to connect with her character since she is the sole sister among brothers and has been playing hockey since childhood.
“Hockey runs in my family. Everyone played as I was growing up,” she explained.
Best known for her role as Willie Jack in Reservation Dogs, she hopes the film opens viewers’ eyes to the realities faced by Indigenous athletes.
Reflecting on her upbringing, Alexis said, “Living on the rez, the nearest place to play hockey was a small town called Onoway. We competed against various small towns throughout Alberta.”
She added, “There’s a lot of unspoken racism, especially being the only Native player on a team, often feeling isolated and facing targeting from coaches and some parents.”
While she hopes audiences become more aware of the challenges Indigenous youth face in sports, Alexis also desires that they can “forget about life and have a good laugh,” reminiscent of the crowds that filled the stands at her games, filled with “auntie laughs everywhere.”
Ed Helms plays the coach of the U-18 team alongside Lightning, who takes on the role of the Zamboni driver-turned-coach. (TIFF)
Alexis noted that for some of her fellow cast members, this was their first acting endeavor, and she found them “pretty amazing if you ask me. I’m incredibly proud of all of them.”
Kelly Boutsalis, the International Programmer at TIFF and a Kanien’kehá:ka from Six Nations of the Grand River, praised the hockey player-turned-actors for their remarkable performances that brought authenticity to the film.
“It had a lot of heart and depth, bringing to life as many players as possible while maintaining that humor,” Boutsalis remarked.
Lightning expressed his eagerness for the premiere, stating he enjoys observing audience reactions “like a hawk” from the back of the theater.
