Billy Diamond was born to Hilda and Malcolm Diamond on May 17, 1949 in a tent near Rupert House, Quebec, on the shore of James Bay. He grew up in the Cree Nation of Waskaganish until being forced to attend Bishop Horden Hall, a residential school in Moose Factory, Ontario. Diamond recalled that his hair was cut for the first time in his life immediately upon arrival, and the clothes his mother gave him were confiscated. Additionally, the students were punished if they attempted to communicate to each other in Cree. Despite these circumstances, Diamond achieved leadership awards while becoming interested in a variety of academic topics. As a teenager, he attended high school in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, where he organized an Indian Students Council.
Political career
Diamond returned to Waskaganish after high school, serving as the Band Manager during the 1960s. Although he personally hoped to attend law school, Diamond followed his father's wishes and successfully ran for Chief. He was elected in 1970 at 21 years old, the youngest Chief in Canada at that time. He helped to establish the Grand Council of the Crees in 1974, of which he was elected Grand Chief at age 23. As such, he represented Quebec Crees in the Assembly of First Nations. Diamond also helped to negotiate Sections 25 and 35 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms from 1980 to 1983.
In 1971, Premier Robert Bourassa announced that $6 billion hydroelectric dam would be built on the Eastmain River in Cree and Inuit territory, which he coined the "project of the century". The project was planned without consulting Cree and Inuit stakeholders, and would have flooded traditional Cree and Inuit hunting grounds. Diamond organized a meeting of James Bay Crees to discuss the urgency of this project, wherein they decided to challenge the government legally. Initially, the court ruling in favour of the Inuit and Cree case was overturned. However, Diamond and other Indigenous activists such as the Northern Quebec Inuit Association were able to secure an out-of-court settlement with Hydro Quebec now known as the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement in 1975. This agreement allowed an altered hydroelectric project to be built in exchange for solidified land rights and financial compensation. The JBNQA is considered the first "Modern Treaty" and provided the James Bay Cree and Inuit with $225 million in compensation, in addition to investment infrastructure.
Air Creebec
Diamond established Air Creebec in 1982, and served as its president. Since it connects coastal communities to larger urban centres such as Timmins, Val D'or, and Montreal, the airline fulfills Diamond's vision of allowing the people of James Bay greater mobility. To this day it is entirely Cree-owned.
Personal life
Billy Diamond and his wife Elizabeth had six children. Later in life, he became a devout Christian.
