Hamilton City Manager Marnie Cluckie is joining the Joint Stewardship Board (JSB) following a breakdown of the Board, which brings the City together with Haudenosaunee representatives to address the guardianship of the Red Hill Valley.
“It sends a signal when you have the top bureaucrat involved, that this is important to us, that I’m going to listen, hear, and take it back and make sure that we action things promptly across departments,” Cluckie said during her post-Council availability on April 16.
“It’s really important that we rebuild trust, respect, and the friendship that it was founded on.”
The JSB was created in 2003 when the City and Haudenosaunee signed a series of agreements. For the City, the agreements enabled the construction of the Red Hill Valley Parkway (RHVP).
The JSB operates by consensus. Tensions have risen in recent years and boiled over in the past year.
Ward 9 Councillor Brad Clark and Ward 5 Clr Matt Francis both resigned from the JSB in October, leaving Ward 4 Clr Tammy Hwang as the City’s sole representative.
Cluckie is filling one of the vacancies.
Council Divided on Filling Remaining City Vacancy
Council was poised to appoint Ward 2 Clr Cameron Kroetsch on Wednesday, but deferred the vote after Francis asked for a three-week delay while he considers seeking a return to the JSB.
Francis wants to advocate for widening the RHVP, one of the issues that led to the breakdown in the relationship between the City and Haudenosaunee.
The City began studies to expand the RHVP without consulting the JSB, violating its agreements. In 2022, Clr Clark issued a public apology because the City completed an early environmental assessment in January 2021.
In recent years, the Haudenosaunee representatives have sought to review all City projects and work related to the Valley, and expand the JSB’s role to include reviewing developments across Hamilton. The Haudenosaunee Development Institute, the development arm of the Haudenosaunee confederacy, is seeking payment for reviews, sometimes in the tens of thousands of dollars.
City Manager Focused on Rebuilding Relationships
During the spring of 2024, City storm pond maintenance work was paused due to a dispute with the Haudenosaunee.
The continuing disputes and divides prompted Clark and Francis to resign in frustration.
Shortly after becoming city manager, Cluckie became actively engaged in the JSB process, instructing city staff to keep her informed of all work in the Valley.
Cluckie says her focus is rebuilding relationships and friendships with the Haudenosaunee.
“We’re going to start from a place of building trust.”
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Published: April 21, 2025
Last updated: April 21, 2025
Author: Joey Coleman
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