Roller Derby Connects Cultures Across Borders in Special Tournament
Written by Katie Halloran | Photos courtesy of Alvin Green Jr.  

How far would you go to follow your dreams?
For one NHBP Tribal Member, Rae Hayes, 29, of Kalamazoo, Michigan, following her dreams took her on a 1,200-mile drive to Denver, Colorado, to participate with the roller derby Team Indigenous Rising on an international stage. 

For an entire weekend in November 2023, Hayes represented both the NHBP Tribe and all of Indian Country through the No Borders Roller Derby Tournament, fulfilling a long-held dream of hers.

“I have always wanted to represent the Tribe in this unique way,” said Hayes.

Four teams from across North America, hence the name, No Borders, competed in exciting derby bouts of dexterity, calamity and skill, with each team representing a different ethnic and cultural background. With Team Indigenous Rising as Hayes’ team, the three other teams vying for the title were the Latino Fuego, Black Diaspora and the Jewish Roller Derby.  

“We didn’t win a single game, but I met some amazing people,” said Hayes, whose field name is “Smacks,” short for “Smackagawea.”  Her pseudonym has created conversations among her fellow derby players and fans, all to educate and incite questions about her Culture.

Team Indigenous Rising represented 17 different Tribes from across North America.

“We Smudged ourselves and our skates before each game,” said Hayes. “We went in as the underdogs of the tournament.”

Hayes joined Team Indigenous Rising in 2019, but the team was unable to compete or even meet in person for years due to COVID-19.

“It was truly awesome to finally meet all these great people,” said Hayes. “We learned a lot about each other and our Cultures in just a few short days.”

The sport of roller derby has historically attracted a predominantly white demographic, so Hayes was appreciative of the support and the interest that the game is garnering among the Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) community. This special tournament served as a testament to the growing interest and support the game of roller derby is garnering among BIPOC.

Roller Derby is unique on so many levels, Hayes explained.

“It’s a very ‘DIY sport,’ where a lot of people can participate. We set up a track wherever there is space, so you don’t need a specific rink, or a ton of equipment to play, besides skates and ‘PPE.’”

Although its athletes don themselves extensively with personal protective equipment (PPE), such as knee pads, elbow pads, mouth guards and helmets, roller derby is known for its plethora of injuries for its players.

“It’s not that bad,” said Hayes, who then conceded she had broken an ankle a few years ago while playing the sport.

Another fascinating anecdote about roller derby is that it’s primarily female-driven and female-dominated. “Men participate in roller derby, but not to the extent that women do.”

Hayes’ love for roller derby started in 2016, in her early 20s, when she joined the Battle Creek Roller Derby. Hayes quickly became a star on the team and was named its captain.

After a move to Kalamazoo, Hayes now plays for the Kalamazoo Roller Derby, which won the “Mitten Kitten Mash-up,” a statewide three-day tournament, in October 2023.

“It was such a fun time, getting to see people from all across the Midwest,” said Hayes. “I am naturally an introvert, but people think I am an extrovert because of how I play roller derby. That’s just me having fun!”

Hayes encourages anyone to start having fun with roller derby, whether it’s by playing or even becoming a spectator. The Kalamazoo Roller Derby plays in Paw Paw, Michigan, at the Performance Field House and its bouts, or games, are open to the public.

“I love when I know people in the stands, it’s a fun experience to watch all the action. We love our fans.”

Want to learn more about roller derby? Here are some interesting facts about the sport.

The Kalamazoo Roller Derby has its first bout against Fort Wayne at home on Saturday, Jan. 27, and the public is welcome! Doors open at 5 p.m.