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 含羞草研究社渧ery close含羞草研究社� 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含羞草研究社檚 Indian community, the group organized a gathering at the city含羞草研究社檚 multiplex parking lot to meet residents.

含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 been almost 24 hours that we are here and we feel awesome. We didn含羞草研究社檛 feel like we are coming that many kilometres away from our home. It含羞草研究社檚 totally like home,含羞草研究社� Singh told Cabin Radio on Wednesday evening

含羞草研究社淔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.

含羞草研究社淲e never thought we could make it. But yes, by the God含羞草研究社檚 grace and blessed with all the sangat company from here 含羞草研究社� 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 含羞草研究社� which began in 1999 when we got permission in Canada that yes, Sikh Motorcycle Club or a person can ride a bike with turban.含羞草研究社�

Singh said in the time the club含羞草研究社檚 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: 含羞草研究社淣o person shall drive or ride on a motorcycle unless the person wears a prescribed helmet in the prescribed manner.含羞草研究社�

Last year, in an effort to fight diabetes, the club raised a hefty amount through its Ride for Cause initiative 含羞草研究社� 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. 含羞草研究社淭hat is the route where they say a biker must do in their lifespan. So last year, we have done that,含羞草研究社� 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 含羞草研究社渁 lot of hurdles含羞草研究社� to change helmet rules in different provinces.

含羞草研究社淭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,含羞草研究社� he said of the governments who approved the switch.

He was impressed by the attendance at Wednesday含羞草研究社檚 gathering, too.

含羞草研究社淭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,含羞草研究社� Sidhu said.

Yellowknife restaurant Masala Kingdom含羞草研究社檚 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.

含羞草研究社淢embers of the Sikh Motorcycle Club, they all got patches for coming up,含羞草研究社� she said. 含羞草研究社淲e welcome all riders to come to town. It含羞草研究社檚 really cool that there are so many of them all together, though. We don含羞草研究社檛 see that very often.含羞草研究社�

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.

含羞草研究社淲e含羞草研究社檙e all family friends. We含羞草研究社檙e all best buddies. We ride together,含羞草研究社� he explained.

含羞草研究社淚f one person has a particular brand, like for example a Harley Road Glide, then they encourage their friends saying, 含羞草研究社楬ey, you ride my bike. Hop on my bike, and then see if you feel comfortable.含羞草研究社� So even the members that had Street Glide, they switched over to Road Glide now, because it含羞草研究社檚 more comfortable.含羞草研究社�

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.

含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 just a respect factor, I guess, or they含羞草研究社檙e scared 含羞草研究社� one or the other,含羞草研究社� he said.

含羞草研究社淭he moment you hop on your bike, it含羞草研究社檚 just you and your bike. That含羞草研究社檚 it. There含羞草研究社檚 nothing else in between. Your bike is your baby. You forget about all the stress, you forget about all the tensions.

含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 hard to explain. It含羞草研究社檚 just that freedom, you know, the fresh wind you catch in your face.含羞草研究社�

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