By Patrick Quinn Local Journalism Initiative Reporter On May 29, Moose Cree First Nation served its legal defence against claims made by the Grand Council of Crees of Quebec (“GCC”) in a lawsuit filed in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in 2016. The GCC is seeking recognition of the Cree Nation’s Aboriginal title and rights over certain lands located in Ontario, as well as $495 million in damages for alleged past breaches of rights. The governments of Canada and Ontario, along with several Ontario First Nations, including Moose Cree First Natio, are defending against the GCC’s claims. At issue are 48,000 square kilometres of territory south of James Bay west of the Ontario-Quebec border, where the Cree of MoCreebec live amid the Moose Cree homeland. “This was a necessary…