Filmmaker Courtney Montour brings Indigenous roller derby flick to U.S. audiences

Native writer and director Courtney Montour (Kanien’kehá:ka) is making her way through the United States this month, screening her first American showings of her film, “Rising Through the Fray.”

By Aminah Syed, Fry Bread Creative Digital Storytelling Intern

The film follows the story of the roller derby team, Indigenous Rising, and how they establish themselves in the sport. It’s main protagonists, Sour Cherry, Krispy and Hawaiian Blaze present a story of resiliences through their passion for the sport.

“Indigenous Rising brings a whole new layer to the sport by challenging the colonial borders that have reshaped our Indigenous lands and identities. The team embodies our communities’ collective resiliency,” Montour said in her press release. “As a Kanien’kehá:ka filmmaker, my work focuses on reconciling and embracing our Indigenous identities.”

Following its Canadian theatrical premiere, it was screened at the Santa Barbra International Film Festival on Feb. 5 and 7.  The film includes skaters from over 30 Indigenous Nations across the U.S., incorporating home life culture of the skaters with the main plot of the movie.

“Sour Cherry, Hawaiian Blaze and Krispy welcomed us into their home lives to share their personal stories of displacement and disconnection from their Indigenous communities ultimately grounding us in the importance of representation in the mainstream,” Montour said. 

For more additional screenings and information visit the Rising Through the Fray website. The next free screening will be at the Théâtre Centennial de l’Université Bishop’s in Quebec, Canada on March 18.