SAND SPRINGS, Oklv.- The Mvskoke Rez Rollers is a group of tribal citizens that enjoy roller skating at various roller rinks on and off the Mvskoke Reservation. They like to have fun, fellowship and show off their best skating tricks. None of them are instructors, however they still like to teach others how to skate.
Tim Maxville (Mississippi Choctaw), also known as “Frybread”, his son Timothy Maxville (Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma), his daughter Saige Maxville (Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma) and their friend Vanessa Brito (Seminole/Mvskoke) are the core members of the team. The purpose of the group is to exercise and move, all while having fun in the process.
The idea for putting together a skating team came when Saige Maxville was diagnosed with brain cancer in the fourth grade. She had glioblastoma, a form of cancer that grows in the brain or the spinal cord. At the time of her diagnosis, doctors only gave her a 15 month prognosis. After surgery and chemotherapy treatments, Saige Maxville was able to beat it. She went on to enjoy normal activities like cheerleading and dance. She also explored roller skating, however this was not an activity she wanted to try alone. That is when the Maxville family got hooked on the sport.
Tim Maxville admitted that he was self-conscious at first when he first started skating at a public roller rink. Once he started skating he felt right at home. He met fellow skaters, who he described as generous, helpful and kind.
Brito’s parents met at a skating rink in Chicago. Due to her parents’ encounter she believed that she was destined to roller skate. Her mom took her to the local skating rink frequently throughout childhood. Now an adult, Brito still enjoys roller sports and has picked up quite a few skating tricks along the way.
The Maxville family met Brito at a roller skating rink when she noticed how much fun the trio was having together on roller blades. From there Brito knew she wanted to skate with the Maxvilles. After forming a skating team, they decided to call themselves the Mvskoke Rez Rollers, after the reservation they practice within.
“We are proud to be here. We’re proud that all the tribes have gotten their jurisdiction back, so that was what we honor, we honor the land that we’re on and the people,” Tim Maxville said.
Roller sports sees participants of all ages from kids, adults and elders. Tim Maxville is currently 50 years old and has seen roller skaters as old as 79.

Fun and Fellowship for All Ages
Each member of the group knows how to perform skating tricks, and each has their favorite. Brito and Tim Maxville enjoy doing the “snap”, while Saige Maxville loves doing the splits. “I think that’s all we do is tricks, we are kind of slick. We call it ‘the show’, we probably really ain’t even got no good tricks but that’s what we think about ourselves,” Tim Maxville said laughingly.
The group’s advice to stay safe on the rink is to stretch, wear elbow and knee pads, as well as look out for others. Tim Maxville encourages others when he gets the chance, and wants beginners to know that no one is there to make fun of them. “All of us want to see people successful with it, we don’t want to see nobody injured. People try to lend a hand and give pointers,” Tim Maxville said.
Videos of Tim Maxville posted online caught the interest of other tribal citizens who thought he made it look like fun to do. The group agrees that patience is the key to learning how to roller skate. It can build self-confidence, trust and individuality. According to Tim Maxville, it is also a great way to stay active.
“Hopefully they’ll just come out and enjoy themselves and while they’re doing that it’s a workout. You’re going to be burning calories, if you are looking to lose a little bit of weight or just get in shape. It’s also working your balance, so I think it’s good all the way around,” Tim Maxville said.
Brito likes the feeling of escape roller blading brings. Tim Maxville enjoys dancing to music on roller skates. No matter the age of the roller skater, or how long it has been since they picked up a pair of skates, Brito says anyone can do it.
“Don’t be intimidated because it had been 20 years since I had been on wheels, I promise you anybody can do it,” Brito said. Adding to that, Tim Maxville stated that he was 49 years old when he first started skating.
Timothy Maxville said that most of his friend groups are from the rinks and believes the skating community is made up of some of the nicest people. “Anytime you ever need help or anything, you just can go over to the person and ask them whatever you need. That’s how I learned how to skate with this,” Timothy said.
The Mvskoke Rez Rollers practices at SKATES Rollertainment from 8:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. They can be found practicing at Owasso’s Wheels and Thrills on Saturdays, and at Claremore’s Roller World on the first Friday of the month.
The team invites newcomers to skate with the team and learn new tricks. Anyone 18 years old and older are welcome, they just need to bring a pair of skates. SKATES Rollertainment offers private lessons, more information can be found at sakescenter.com/lessons.