Diom Romeo Saganash

Diom Romeo Saganash was born in 1962 on the territory of the Cree Nation of Waswanipi in Northern Quebec. He attended the University of Quebec at Montreal and obtained his degree in law in 1989. Mr. Saganash has been involved in numerous organizations relating to Indigenous and Cree affairs including the Cree Regional Youth Council ( acting as Founding President), Creeco Inc., the James Bay Eeyou Corporation and the Cree First Nation of Waswanipi, his home community. He was Deputy Grand Chief of the Grand Council of the Crees of Quebec and Vice-Chairman of the Cree Regional Authority from 1990 to 1993. Over the past twenty years, Mr. Saganash has represented the Cree people in numerous national and international conferences and forums dealing with environmental issues, constitutional matters, self-determination questions and international law and human rights as they relate to indigenous peoples. Beginning in 1993, he served as Director of Quebec and International Relations for the Grand Council of the Crees (Eeyou Istchee). He was an NDP Member of Parliament from 2011 to 2019.

Mr. Saganash speaks Cree, English and French. He is the recipient of a lifetime achievement award (Prix d'excellence) from the University of Quebec at Montreal in 2003 for his contribution to the advancement of Cree and aboriginal rights in Quebec.