Royal Canadian Wrestling and Recreation & Parks staff posing for a photo at the Multi-Purpose Building in Standoff, AB, on May 27, 2025. Photo by Amber Sugai.
Real Canadian Wrestling Event
By Amber Sugai, Blood Tribe Communications
On Tuesday May 27, 2025, Blood Tribe Recreation & Parks had a Drug & Alcohol & Bully Prevention Workshop then later in the evening had a wrestling event, presented by the Real Canadian Wrestling (RCW).
Recreation & Parks put together this all-ages free event in collaboration with Kainai Board of Education, Drug & Harm Reduction Project, Blood Tribe Employment & Skills Training, West Wind School Division, Standoff Community Committee, Old Agency Community Committee, and Levern Community Committee. This event hoped to raise mental health awareness and to get the community involved for an exciting evening.
Four wrestlers came to the Multi-Purpose Building to talk to high school students about their past experiences and to speak about mental health.
Steve Wilde started the workshop so he could get the message across to the youth from smaller communities that there is more to life and the obstacles you are going through can get better, and to speak up about your struggles.
The goal for the seminar was to show young kids that talking about your mental health matters. We can help ease the stigma around mental health issues by speaking about them openly. Wilde speaking up about his struggles is helping him heal from all the hardships he has faced, and he hopes that he can get through to one person with his speech.
“It really helps talking to someone, doing these discussions helps me heal a little bit every day,” said Wilde.
Steven Ewaschuk has been doing the seminars for 20 years. Ewaschuk talked to the students about his experience with wrestling and the bond he made with everyone he works with. The bond he created with his colleagues helps him feels safe to talk about his past and present struggles. Ewaschuk’s goal was to help the youth understand that it’s okay to talk about the struggles they face. He believes talking is one step closer to breaking the generational cycle.
“Every generation goes through the same issues, talking about the struggles is helping you to be one step closer to breaking that cycle,” said Ewaschuk.
Recreation & Parks Director, Marcella Knife, liked the idea of bringing professional wrestling back to the Standoff community. She hoped to provide an exciting evening but one that also carries a powerful message.
Knife loved the messages that the wrestlers gave to the students, that it is up to them to take control of their own lives and to do what was best for them. She hopes that everyone in attendance at the workshop took note of the messages and what it all meant.
“You have control of yourself. You have control of what you want to do in life,” said Knife.
Later in the evening the RCW held a wrestling match infront of a packed audience. Chief Travis Plaited Hair was happy to see the community come together and enjoy a night of fun. Chief Plaited Hair has been working with Blood Tribe Administration departments and Community Committees on events that get members involved and excited.
“Our goal is community involvement, especially with the youth. Events like these are important for the community, to forget their stresses for an evening,” said Chief Plaited Hair.
Wrestler Kid Chocolate (Mo Jabri) jumping off the ropes onto opponent Krieger at the Royal Canadian Wrestling Match on May 27, 2025, at the Multi-Purpose Building in Standoff, AB. Photo by Amber Sugai
Audience reaction to the wrestling match at the Multi-Purpose Building on May 27, 2025, in Standoff, AB. Photo by Amber Sugai
Wrestler Steve Wilde fighting with opponent Canadian Goose (Kyle Shaw) at the Royal Canadian Wrestling Match on May 27, 2025, at the Multi-Purpose Building in Standoff, AB. Photo by Amber Sugai
Royal Canadian Wrestling Match on May 27, 2025, at the Multi-Purpose Building in Standoff, AB. Photo by Amber Sugai
Chief Travis Plaited Hair, Lydia Mistaken Chief, and Winston Bruised Head getting in the ring at the Royal Canadian Wrestling event on May 27, 2025, at the Multi-Purpose Building in Standoff, AB. Photo by Amber Sugai
