Team Indigenous and Jewish Roller Derby רולר דרבי יהודי to play at the 2019 International WFTDA Championships

On this day, we celebrate the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, developed by the United Nations as they enacted the first Working Group on Indigenous Populations in 1982.  The theme for 2019 is Indigenous Languages as Indigenous communities work globally to preserve and revitalize languages critical to the culture, identity and history of these communities. We have been so fortunate to find the common language of sport within roller derby, tying many nations together for a purpose.

As a global organization, the WFTDA recognizes the resilience and strength of all Indigenous peoples globally, and supports roller derby beyond the borders that constrain us and supports those that challenge systems of injustice through the building of community in roller derby. Team Indigenous and Jewish Roller Derby are two teams of strength, grace, and resilience that urge us to change the way we see the world and redefine “nation.”

We use this platform and our community on this important day to announce a revolutionary competition, WE ARE NATION: A GAME WITHOUT BORDERS featuring Team Indigenous and Jewish Roller Derby/רולר דרבי יהודי, hosted by WFTDA at the 2019 International WFTDA Championships, Saturday, November 16, 11:30 am – 1:00 pm in Montréal, Québec, Canada. Not only will this game be part of the at-event game schedule, it will also be a free stream, live on WFTDA.tv.

About the Participating Teams

Team Indigenous

Team Indigenous

We are Team Indigenous Rising. We are the Original Nations of the Americas. We are Indigenous athletes, coaching staff, and volunteers. The mission and purpose of Team Indigenous Roller Derby is to unite the Indigenous roller derby community, representing the proud, once-borderless communities in our Ancestral Lands on these continents. Our Ancestral Home is known by many names: Turtle Island, Abya Yala, Pachamama, and thousands more. We are committed to strengthening the sport of flat track roller derby, the athletes who play it, and the Indigenous peoples throughout the hemisphere by representing First Nations people in events around the globe in 2019.

WE ARE NATION: A GAME WITHOUT BORDERS Roster
Name
#
Pronunciation & Identification Notes
Indigneous Nation
Home League
Kris Myass
1116
She/her
Cree
Calgary Roller Derby
Ash Tray
420
she/her
Chippewa, Ottawa
Flint Roller Derby
SOgnar
4
(SO-nar) she/her
Dry Creek Pomo, Polosa Village
The Guild of Troublemakers
Bazinga
314
she/her
Red River Metis
Calgary Roller Derby
Karma
614
she/her
Red Lake Chippewa
Brew City Bruisers
Blackrock Bruiser
198
she/her
Cayuga/Seneca
Queen City Roller Derby
Jumpy McGee
491
she/her
Dine (Navajo)
Maine Roller Derby
BeastMode
100
She/her
Chumash
Clarksville Roller Derby
Niketah
47
(nih-KEE-tah) She/her
Tlingit (KLEEN-kit)
Rage City Roller Derby
Mush.It.Real.Good
1492
(MUSH it real good) she/her
Navajo
Gold Coast Derby Girls
Dolly Benally
5
She/her/hers
Dine (Navajo)
Durango Roller Girls
Raven
64
they/them
Saddle Lake Cree Nation
Toronto Roller Derby
Margaret Bleed
1935
she/her
Taino
SoCal Roller Derby
Skates in Circles
57
she/her
Oglala Lakota
Old Capital City Roller Derby
Painkiller Jane
12
she/her
Georgian Bay Metis (MAY-tee)
Orangeville Roller Girls
Danger Girl ALT
8
She/her
Lakota
Black Hills Wildfire
Jet Pack ALT
907
She/her
Athabascan
Hellgate Roller Derby
DARYL
Coach
She/her
Taos Pueblo
Gotham Roller Derby
SiouxperNova
Coach
She/her
Yankton Sioux
Madison Roller Derby
Krispy
Bench
She/her
Cherokee
Rebel Town Rollers
Windigo
Manager
She/her
Wiikwemikoong First Nation (WEE-kwaym-KOHNG)
Brewcity Bruisers Roller Derby

Jewish Roller Derby

Jewish Roller DerbyJewish Roller Derby/רולר דרבי יהודי unites the skaters, officials, and coaches of the Jewish diaspora as one team and one nation. We provide space within the international derby community for the displaced, the exiled, the stateless, the descendants of Judah. This team showcases the athleticism and the heart of the Jewish people through our dedication to the sport and community of flat track roller derby as well as our commitment to tikkun olam, or healing the world.  Jewish Roller Derby skates in solidarity with our sibling borderless nations and marginalized groups across the world.

WE ARE NATION: A GAME WITHOUT BORDERS Roster
Name
#
Pronunciation & Identification Notes
Home League
Gritz
185
She/her
Carolina Wrecking Balls
Malka Shayna (מלכה שיינה)
97
(mal-KA shay-NA, captain) She/her
Rose City Rollers
(שרה מאר)/Sarah Marie
23
She/her
Storm City Roller Derby
Shoshananaguns
9
She/her
Madison Roller Derby
Bruiseberry Pie
31
She/her
Vancouver Murder
Kosher Assault (כשר אסאולט)
322
She/her
Rat City Roller Derby
Oz Farkas
2012
(Oz Far-KAZ) She/her
DC Rollergirls
Goldman
021
She/her
Montreal Roller Derby
(נִילִי) / Nili
360
(Nee-Lee, captain) She/her
San Diego Derby United
Vanek
12
(VAN-ek) She/her
Toronto Roller Derby
Knox
9999
She/her
Santa Cruz Roller Derby
(לאה רחל)/Leah Rachel
44
She/her
Windy City Rollers
Belka Pigeon
1
She/her
Beach Cities Roller Derby
Fineman
90
She/her
Gotham Roller Derby
(לילו וסטיצ׳ז) / Lilo & Stitches
626
She/her
Rocky Mountain Rollergirls
Pleah (פּלאה)
141
(play-UH) She/her
Jacksonville Roller Derby
Novisk
811
She/her
Atlanta Roller Derby
Peach Clobber
350
She/her
Big Easy Rollergirls
COHN!!!
18
She/her
Rose City Rollers
Levy
Coach
(Lee-vee, Morgan Levy) She/her
Rose City Rollers
Blackman
Coach
(Rachel Blackman) She/her
Denver Roller Derby
קאַווע / Coffee
Coach
(Strong Female Character/Staci Akselrod) She/her
Gotham Roller Derby

Join us in Montréal or stream free on WFTDA.tv, Saturday, November 16 at 11:30 am EST to participate in this extraordinary game WE ARE NATION: A GAME WITHOUT BORDERS.

GET YOUR TICKETS TO CHAMPS NOW!

#WEARENATION
#TEAMINDIGENOUSRISING
#JEWISHROLLERDERBY