By Aastha Sethi, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter CABIN RADIO

In some southern provinces, practising Sikhs can ride bicycles or motorcycles without a helmet.

This exception was first introduced in British Columbia after Sikhs lobbied the provincial government. Other provinces to since make the same change are Manitoba, Alberta and Ontario.

The BC-based Sikh Motorcycle Club is behind most of that lobbying. Spokesperson Amandeep Singh said the team is 乌鸦传媒渧ery close乌鸦传媒� to a similar change in Saskatchewan.

Singh is one of a few dozen motorcyclists who arrived in Yellowknife from Vancouver earlier this week.

On Wednesday, with the help of Yellowknife乌鸦传媒檚 Indian community, the group organized a gathering at the city乌鸦传媒檚 multiplex parking lot to meet residents.

乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 been almost 24 hours that we are here and we feel awesome. We didn乌鸦传媒檛 feel like we are coming that many kilometres away from our home. It乌鸦传媒檚 totally like home,乌鸦传媒� Singh told Cabin Radio on Wednesday evening

乌鸦传媒淔irstly, I just want to thank to my God, who had given us the strength that as a group, the Sikh Motorcycle Club, we are on this land.

乌鸦传媒淲e never thought we could make it. But yes, by the God乌鸦传媒檚 grace and blessed with all the sangat company from here 乌鸦传媒� From the very first day, we just want to promote our Dastar, to promote our turban, to promote who Sikhs are. That is the only one aim 乌鸦传媒� which began in 1999 when we got permission in Canada that yes, Sikh Motorcycle Club or a person can ride a bike with turban.乌鸦传媒�

Singh said in the time the club乌鸦传媒檚 members are here, they will try to initiate a dialogue with representatives from the territorial government to make an exception for people to ride motorcycles or bikes without a helmet on religious grounds.

At the moment, NWT legislation states: 乌鸦传媒淣o person shall drive or ride on a motorcycle unless the person wears a prescribed helmet in the prescribed manner.乌鸦传媒�

Last year, in an effort to fight diabetes, the club raised a hefty amount through its Ride for Cause initiative 乌鸦传媒� one of many charity rides the club has arranged.

In 2019, members travelled for 40 days across 22 countries between Canada and Punjab, India, to celebrate Gurpurab or Guru Nanak Jayanti, a sacred festival in Sikhism, and raise funds for the nonprofit Khalsa Aid.

Singh said the club rides twice a year, more recently dedicating a trip to United States Route 66. 乌鸦传媒淭hat is the route where they say a biker must do in their lifespan. So last year, we have done that,乌鸦传媒� he said.

The Yellowknife trip, via High Level on the way up and Grande Cache on the way back, is just over a week long and involves close to 10,000 km, Singh estimated.

Club member Azad Sidhu said he joined in 2003, the year it was launched. Over the years, he said, bikers overcame 乌鸦传媒渁 lot of hurdles乌鸦传媒� to change helmet rules in different provinces.

乌鸦传媒淭hey gave us an opportunity to exercise our religion and also give us independence to do what we need to do. This is a great country to be in,乌鸦传媒� he said of the governments who approved the switch.

He was impressed by the attendance at Wednesday乌鸦传媒檚 gathering, too.

乌鸦传媒淭his was not part of the plan, but I think this is the welcome, this is the love, this is the affection of these people, and smaller communities normally show this kind of warmth,乌鸦传媒� Sidhu said.

Yellowknife restaurant Masala Kingdom乌鸦传媒檚 Harmanpreet Singh, at the event with his family, served food and drinks for 300 people. The club contacted Singh to help coordinate its arrival and learn about road conditions in the territory.

A day prior to the gathering, the restaurant organized dinner for the club at a downtown church.

NWT Riders Association president Robin Weber handed out souvenirs to the bikers.

乌鸦传媒淢embers of the Sikh Motorcycle Club, they all got patches for coming up,乌鸦传媒� she said. 乌鸦传媒淲e welcome all riders to come to town. It乌鸦传媒檚 really cool that there are so many of them all together, though. We don乌鸦传媒檛 see that very often.乌鸦传媒�

Charanjit Singh Dhadda, who has been riding bikes for 25 years, said the club used to use lightweight motorcycles that were easier to manoeuvre but has slowly transitioned to using bigger custom Harley-Davidsons. He said some of the Road Glide models on display cost more than $100,000.

乌鸦传媒淲e乌鸦传媒檙e all family friends. We乌鸦传媒檙e all best buddies. We ride together,乌鸦传媒� he explained.

乌鸦传媒淚f one person has a particular brand, like for example a Harley Road Glide, then they encourage their friends saying, 乌鸦传媒楬ey, you ride my bike. Hop on my bike, and then see if you feel comfortable.乌鸦传媒� So even the members that had Street Glide, they switched over to Road Glide now, because it乌鸦传媒檚 more comfortable.乌鸦传媒�

Dhadda said this trip marked his first ride on his new motorcycle. Despite the costly models, he said the club has never had a bike stolen.

乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 just a respect factor, I guess, or they乌鸦传媒檙e scared 乌鸦传媒� one or the other,乌鸦传媒� he said.

乌鸦传媒淭he moment you hop on your bike, it乌鸦传媒檚 just you and your bike. That乌鸦传媒檚 it. There乌鸦传媒檚 nothing else in between. Your bike is your baby. You forget about all the stress, you forget about all the tensions.

乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 hard to explain. It乌鸦传媒檚 just that freedom, you know, the fresh wind you catch in your face.乌鸦传媒�

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