The Current Roller derby doc that looks at the community is changing lives
Jan 30, 2026
Courtney Montour, Kanagahaga filmmaker behind Rising Through the Fray, offers a director's view of the team and ceremonies. Sour Cherry (Sherry Bonkus), Indigenous roller derby player and founding member of Indigenous Rising, shares her journey and the sport's role in identity and community. They discuss borderless team identity, cultural ceremonies on and off track, and how derby formed a fierce supportive family.
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Team Representing Nations, Not Borders
- Indigenous Rising formed a team that represents nations rather than colonial borders, competing as a borderless team.
- The approach reframes sport as a space for cultural identity and collective representation beyond country flags.
Founding Canada's First League
- Sour Cherry founded Canada's first roller derby team in 2005 after realizing she loved aggressive sports and wanted to try something different.
- She and her sister used to sneak downstairs to watch roller derby and later turned that interest into building a league.
Community Over Competition
- Roller derby creates a welcoming, volunteer-driven community primarily for women and non-binary people that fosters deep commitment.
- That community energy made Courtney Montour see Indigenous Rising as groundbreaking and pride-inspiring beyond sport.