Eulogizing Billy Diamond
Blazing the trail as the first major Cree leader in the modern world, Billy Diamond’s capacity for leadership is responsible for so much of the life Crees know and enjoy today.
In this respect, it is no surprise that some of the greatest speakers in Cree society leaped at the opportunity to eulogize their former role model and friend.
Delivering the main eulogy was James A. O’Reilly, a lawyer who had worked with Diamond in the 1970s and 1980s and who considered Diamond to be a brother and a mentor. Current Grand Chief Matthew Coon Come and former Grand Chief Matthew Mukash along with a few select others spoke at his funeral.
The following are excerpts from some of the eulogies made at Diamond’s funeral on October 6.
***********
James A. O’Reilly
When one thinks of Billy, two songs come to mind.
The first is a love song which starts with the words “Where do I begin to tell the story…”, How do I describe this extraordinary historical figure, charismatic Aboriginal leader and pathfinder? Which of these characteristics should be emphasized: Billy the Cree, Billy the person, Billy the fighter, Billy the strategist, Billy the visionary, Billy the diplomat or Billy, one of the founding fathers of the modern Cree Nation?
The second song popularized by Frank Sinatra so typifies Billy: “I did it my way…”. I cannot properly portray a person who combined so many talents and achieved such significant results in such a short space of time and he did it his way.
I had the singular privilege of working very closely with Billy, particularly in the 1970s and 1980s, especially in regard to the political and legal struggles regarding the preservation of the Cree way of life, the recognition of Cree rights and the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement. Billy was not just a natural leader: he was a brother to me, in arms and in spirit. He was also a mentor to me.
Although there have been and are many outstanding Cree leaders who have been involved in the struggles for the recognition of Cree society, Cree values and Cree rights, it is Billy who has set the highest of standards. It is no small tribute to Billy, the first Grand Chief, that the Cree Nation has been so strong in its leadership through the last four decades.
Billy’s testament will always include his key and successful roles in the gigantic struggle for the preservation of the Cree way of life and Cree traditional territory, notably against the James Bay hydroelectric project, in the negotiations relating to the JBNQA, in the contents of the Agreement, in the elaboration of federal and provincial legislation adopted pursuant to that Agreement, in the development of the 1983 constitutional amendments and in respect to the struggles regarding implementation of the JBNQA.
Billy the Cree was a Cree through and through and most proud of his heritage. He was respectful of the Cree hunters and trappers and families who survived off the land, respectful of the land, respectful of the animals and always true to the fundamental values of the Crees. This gave him inner strength and confidence in the battles he had to fight. Billy respected the Elders and followed their advice. Billy always treasured the teachings of his father, Malcolm, and held in high esteem the authority and responsibility placed upon his brother Charlie as the tallyman and protector of the Diamond family trapline.
Billy the person was very human, very humorous and very volatile. Billy was devoted to his family and friends. At the same time, I believe he considered that he had a number of missions to accomplish for the good of all the Cree people. We all know that he was not perfect…
An example of his humour was when we were on a trip to the communities of James Bay in late 1973 or early 1974. We were in Eastmain and the only accommodation was a small building. Entering the room, Billy and I saw there was only one bed. He said to me: “Jim, I know where I am sleeping but I don’t know what you are going to do.”
Billy was without equal as a public speaker. He had the ability to mesmerize his audience whether in Cree or in English. I witnessed on a number of occasions his powerful oratory, including during meetings in the Cree communities.
Billy the fighter was not afraid to take on all comers, including the most powerful governments of the day, to go against all odds and to persevere.
Billy was a brilliant and master strategist. He had an acute sense of the goals he wished to attain and how to attain them. His political timing was uncanny. There are few who have been able to combine with such favourable results court actions, political actions and public attention.
Billy was indeed a visionary. In his 1989 book, “Chief, the Fearless Vision of Billy Diamond”, Roy McGregor provides several examples of this vision. For example, Billy conceptualized or helped conceptualize the notions of an income security plan for Cree hunters, fishermen and trappers, of a Cree School Board, of a Cree-owned and -operated airline and of a community government totally outside the Indian Act.
Despite being persistent and sometimes aggressive, Billy could be and was often diplomatic. It was this flair for diplomacy that served him well in direct discussions with Premier Lévesque, Minister Chrétien, Minister Munro and, during the James Bay negotiations, John Ciaccia, the Quebec representative, and Armand Couture, the Hydro-Québec/JBEC representative. But Billy was always a diplomat who had an iron fist in a velvet glove.
For a full transcription of O’Reilly’s eulogy, go to: www.gcc.ca/newsarticle.php?id=219
***********
Grand Chief Matthew Coon Come
Like the trapper who breaks his own trail, Chief Diamond also broke the ground for his community, our Cree Nation, and indeed for Quebec and the rest of Canada. He was truly a trailblazer.
Against all odds from his humble beginnings he made a difference.
For me, Chief Diamond was a Nation shaker, a Nation builder and a history maker.
As a nation shaker, he shook the Cree leadership, he shook Hydro-Québec and he shook the government of Quebec and the government of Canada.
He inspired the Cree Nation and gave hope with great determination, desire and discipline. He was a fighter, a warrior who against all odds, when it looked impossible managed to navigate and negotiate a better life for his people.
As young chief, I had the opportunity to work with Chief Diamond. I sat on the Executive Committee, Council/Board and numerous other Cree entities and had the chance of a lifetime to observe the most famous Indian leader at work. One cannot talk about Waskaganish leadership or the Cree Nation leadership without mentioning Chief Billy Diamond.
Billy is one of your own. Born in the bush. Raised in and a survivor of the Indian Residential School System. He was like every other little Cree boy, he liked to fight and he certainly was no angel.
Billy was probably told that he would never amount to anything. It seemed everything was against him.
But this man became the founder of the Grand Council of the Crees. He provided the leadership that led to the signing of the first modern land claim agreement in Canada, called the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement and his many achievements ever since have won him the respect and admiration of many people across this country and internationally. The debt, which the Cree Nation owes to Billy Diamond, is immeasurable.
***********
Former Grand Chief Matthew Mukash
During my time as your Grand Chief from 2005 to 2009, I had the opportunity to see first hand what Billy has done for us – his people and Nation. He has set the foundation and the pillars upon which to build a strong, powerful and prosperous Cree Nation. This was only one of Billy’s many accomplishments.
Indeed, his time with us is to be celebrated by the present generations and those yet to come.
Because I had the honour of working with Billy when he was Grand Chief and shared the same boardrooms for many years when we were both Chiefs of our respective communities, I want to say this on a personal note:
It is said that we are given our family but that we choose our friends. If so, then I chose wisely when I chose Billy Diamond as a friend. Friendship is all about loyalty and understanding. He gave me all those things and so much more. He was my mentor and an idol. When I felt happy, he was happy for me. When I was sad, he shared my sorrow. In between times, he shared my interests.
Today, I grieve especially for his family – his wife Elizabeth and his children, his grandchildren and all his relatives. I hope that I can help and comfort them in some way, as he would have done for me and my family.
That is not to say that Billy and I always agreed with one another. His choice of hobby was not always mine. We didn’t always share the same views, but they say “opposites attract”.
Today, I grieve because I have lost a good friend. I know, though, that friendship like his surpasses even death. I know he’ll always be there, keeping a watchful eye and saying what he often said to me, “Matthew, I told you so”.
When I remember Billy I’ll smile but the smile will be tinged with sadness. And why not, he was a good friend. Some day I hope we’ll meet again. Until then I will miss him in my life.
May our greatest and most celebrated Cree leader of all time, Dr. Billy Diamond, rest in peace – and may he be welcomed into the loving arms of Great Creator to enter his new home – a place there is no pain, no suffering, only love and joy.