Billy Diamond

Billy Diamond (May 19, 1949 – September 30, 2010[1]) was the Chief of the Waskaganish, Quebec Cree from 1970 to 1976,[2] the Grand Chief of the Grand Council of the Crees from 1974 to 1984, and a successful businessman who founded Air Creebec.[3][4]

Diamond was elected Chief of the Cree Nation of Waskaganish at the age of 21.[5][2] On November 11, 1975, he signed The James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement with the Canadian government.[6] Using funds from the settlement, he created Air Creebec, Cree Construction Company Limited, and Cree Yamaha Motors.[4] For his outstanding achievements, Billy Diamond was appointed as a Chevalier into the Ordre National du Quebec in 1987.[7] On March 19, 1990, Diamond was a guest on 100 Huntley Street.[8]

Diamond died at the age of 61 from a heart attack. In accordance with his instructions, his tombstone reads: "Gone to a meeting - will return."[9]

  1. ^ Grand Council of the Crees (30 September 2010). "Respected Leader and former Grand Chief of the Crees of Quebec, Chief Dr. Billy Diamond, passes away this morning, on Thursday, September 30, 2010, in his home community of Waskaganish, Quebec". Retrieved 2010-09-30.
  2. ^ a b "Billy Diamond". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved August 31, 2019.
  3. ^ MacGregor, Roy (1989). Chief: The Fearless vision of Billy Diamond. Viking Press. ISBN 0-670-82735-5.
  4. ^ a b "Chief Billy Diamond, Business and Commerce". National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation. Archived from the original on 2007-11-03. Retrieved 2008-02-03.
  5. ^ "Billy Diamond". Power To Change. Archived from the original on 2008-01-27. Retrieved 2008-02-03.
  6. ^ "Interview with Billy Diamond and Roy MacGregor". CM Archive. Retrieved 2008-02-03.
  7. ^ "Billy Diamond – Ordre national du Québec". www.ordre-national.gouv.qc.ca. Retrieved 2019-06-22.
  8. ^ 100huntley (2015-09-08), Flashback: Billy Diamond, archived from the original on 2021-12-21, retrieved 2019-06-22{{citation}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  9. ^ "Billy Diamond, saviour of the dammed". Retrieved August 31, 2019.