[11] He grew up in the Cree Nation of Waskaganish (then Rupert House) until being forced to attend[10] Bishop Horden Hall, a residential school in Moose Factory, Ontario.
[12] 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.
[10] 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".
[15] Diamond organized a meeting of James Bay Crees to discuss the urgency of this project, wherein they decided to challenge the government legally.
[14] 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.
[7] 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.