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Arts·Commotion

The Death Tour brings wrestling to the North

Sonya Ballantyne, the co-director of the documentary The Death Tour, explains why she feels the highlight of the tour is the intense love that remote Indigenous communities have for wrestling.

Documentary co-director Sonya Ballantyne shares what she feels is the real highlight of the tour

CBC Arts ·
Closeup on face of female wrestler as her gets hugs from youth. Empty wrestling ring in the background with a youth wearing a hoodie in front of it.
After her wrestling match on the Death Tour, Sage ' The Matriarch' Morin is surrounded by youth clamouring for hugs, high fives, and attention. Morin says being 'The Matriarch' and wrestling has been healing for her. (Van Royko)

Did you know that for 50 years, wrestlers have toured Indigenous communities in Canada's North?

The indie tour known as the Death Tour is legendary for giving wrestling stars like Chris Jericho their start, and for being a truly grueling journey across the northern Manitoba wrestling circuit.

Today on Commotion, Elamin chats with Sonya Ballantyne, the co-director of the documentary The Death Tour, about why she feels the other highlight of the tour is the intense love that remote Indigenous communities have for wrestling.

WATCH | Today's episode on YouTube (this segment begins at 15:51): 

You can listen to the full discussion from today's show on CBC Listen or on our podcast, Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud, available wherever you get your podcasts.

Interview with Sonya Ballantyne produced by Jean Kim.

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