Blaine Hamilton, president of the Buffalo Soldiers and Troopers Motorcycle Club of Nova Scotia, stands with fellow members at the North Preston Recreation Centre. (Ingrid Bulmer / Staff)
History rolls on the highways
Black motorcycle club honours soldiers
By SHERRI BORDEN COLLEY Staff Reporter | 5:57 AM
BLACK BIKERS — a rare sight in Nova Scotia.
But they’re here, and the Buffalo Soldiers and Troopers Motorcycle Club of Nova Scotia wants to honour the history of two all-black military units, Canada’s No. 2 Construction Battalion and America’s original Buffalo Soldiers.
The two-year-old club, based in Halifax, is mostly black and most of the 11 members are men.
There are two associate members, Ken (Grub) Boyd, a white retired teacher and Carolyn (Mama Bear) Thomas, the club’s spiritual counsellor.
It is the first international and Canadian chapter of the 1,600-member National Association of Buffalo Soldiers and Troopers Motorcycle Clubs, Inc., an American group.
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It’s hard to miss these bikers when they pull up into a parking lot. They wear crisp bright yellow shirts, decorated black vests and black pants.
The club is in the process of modifying its "colours" — now the yellow three-piece crest Buffalo Soldiers, MC, Nova Scotia which also bears a trademarked logo of a uniformed black soldier.
The crest, worn on the back of their black vests while riding, needs to be changed for one simple reason — safety.
"That’s what it boils down to," club president Blaine (Hammer) Hamilton said in an interview.
"On a three-piece crest, when you put Nova Scotia here, it’s claiming territory," Mr. Hamilton explained. "If you ride with a three-piece crest for territory and there (are) criminal elements out there that ride with a three-piece, you’re claiming their territory."
The Buffalo Soldiers claim no territory.
Mr. Hamilton did not name a specific club. But the Hells Angels have a three-piece patch. The top flash has the gang’s name, the middle crest is their trademark Death Head logo and the bottom rocker identifies the chapter.
Part of the problem with a three-piece crest "is it’s associated with crime," said Buffalo Soldiers vice-president Larry (Road Dogg) Patterson.
"We’re just saying where we’re from, so whatever you do in your world, it’s not what we’re doing in ours," Mr. Patterson said. "Once, you abide by that three-piece patch, a lot of people put you in that criminal element."
Without naming any specific biker gang, Mr. Patterson said, "They know who we are and we know who they are.
"You give them a little bit of respect because backlash could come because somebody wants to be stupid. We went through channels because they don’t bother us; we don’t bother them."
Many other local clubs sport a two-piece crest.
The Buffalo Soldiers Club was granted full status last year into the national association after six months of probation.
"What we basically told them is our main mandate was educating the people in Nova Scotia and Canada about the Buffalo Soldiers and the No. 2 Construction Battalion," said Mr. Hamilton.
"We told them we would start by spreading both histories because of the connections that blacks (in Nova Scotia) have to the United States through the Underground Railroad to come up here, so we have a lot of connections."
All full members of the Nova Scotia Buffalo Soldiers are employed and none have criminal records. Having a criminal record is not permitted.
"All of us have upstanding jobs and we’re positive role models in this community," said Mr. Hamilton. "So to have somebody that maybe just got arrested or has just done time for whatever doesn’t reflect a positive light on us. It doesn’t portray a positive role model for the youth that we’re trying to touch."
Mr. Hamilton, a 25-year member of the Canadian Forces, is a petty officer, 2nd class, who works in formation logistics.
Mr. Patterson, also the club’s road captain, is a warehouse technician who has worked as a civilian with the Department of National Defence for 24 years.
Club members also include a lawyer, a custodian, a student support worker, a Metro Transit bus driver, a city worker, a national research council plant assistant, a retired school teacher and a commissionaire.
Five others, including two police officers, a female student adviser and a husband and wife team, are prospects.
Membership is largely by invitation only.
"Just because you’re a black rider . . . if you’re not in good-standing there is no way you’re going to ride with us," Mr. Patterson said. "If you sold drugs, you can’t drive with us."
In its infancy, the club caught the eye of police.
The Combined Forces Intelligence Unit, made up mainly of RCMP and Halifax Regional Police officers, focusing on organized crime and outlaw motorcycle gangs, certainly took notice.
"They wanted to know who we were because we were a new bike club and you’re automatically on their radar because of the three-piece patch," Mr. Hamilton said.
Police checked them out and went back to their usual files.
Along with riding and participating in speaking engagements, members also raise funds for charity.
Karl (Pops) Carvery,a distinguished-looking man with a salt-and-pepper goatee, brings a wealth of experience to the club and serves as its secretary.
Mr. Carvery of New Minas was born in Africville and spent 35 years in the Canadian Army. Retired from the military since 1995, he now heads the Corps of Commissionaires at Camp Aldershot, outside Kentville.
In his spare time, he’s glad he can use his experience and his love for riding as a tool to pass on a positive message.
"One image that catches the eye of young kids today is people on motorbikes and to see black people on motorbikes, " said Mr. Carvery, adding that he tells young people: "You go to school, get yourself some education, get yourself a half-decent job and you’re able to afford these luxuries if that’s what you want to do."
I have been reading about the rumors that Honda Motor Corporation is going to be buying Harley Davidson for the past week. I have been reading the expected responses from die hard loyal Harley Davidson motorcycle riders that it will never happen, it is just a rumor, etc.
