July 30, 2026 12:12 am
CRIT Nation, Parker, AZ
July 30, 2026 12:12 am
CRIT Nation, Parker, AZ

Notices

Ten Tribes Partnership Lead Contractor Application Deadline : September 24, 2025

The Ten Tribes Partnership (TTP) is seeking a lead contractor. This contractor position is supported by the Colorado River Sustainability Campaign, a fiscally sponsored project of the New Venture Fund.

TTP Background

The TTP was formed in 1992 and is a coalition of ten federally recognized Upper and Lower Basin Tribes that hold water rights in the Colorado River Basin. The member Tribes are: Chemehuevi Indian Tribe, Cocopah Indian Tribe, Colorado River Indian Tribes, Fort Mojave Indian Tribe, Jicarilla Apache Nation, Navajo Nation, Quechan Indian Tribe, Southern Ute Indian Tribe, Ute Indian Tribe, and Ute Mountain Ute Tribe.

The goal of the TTP is to increase the influence of Tribes in Colorado River management and provide support for the protection and use of Tribal water resources. The Colorado River Basin is suffering from extended drought, and the impact of climate change is palpable. TTP is committed to developing a new management framework that uplifts tribal priorities ahead of the 2026 expiration of the 2007 Interim Guidelines. TTP has determined this to be a critical time to hire a Lead Contractor to coordinate its efforts.

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Tribal Board/Committee/Commission Vacancies

 

 

ATTENTION CRIT TRIBAL MEMBERS
Tribal Board/Committee/Commission Vacancies

Applications may be picked up at the Tribal Executive Offices or online at www.critmanatabamessenger.com for the following:

IRRIGATION COMMITTEE
1—Term VACANT Chairman
3—Term VACANT Member

EDUCATION BOARD
1 – Term Expiring 12/31/2025

LIQUOR CONTROL BOARD
1 – Term Alternate Expiring 12/31/2026

ENVIRONMENTAL AGRICULTURAL COMMITTEE
1 – Term Expiring 12/31/2026

ETHICS REVIEW BOARD
2 – Full Term Expiring 12/31/2025
3 -Full Terms-Expiring 12/31/2026

CHILDREN’S RESIDENTIAL CENTER ADVISORY BOARD
1—Term Medical Professional
1—Term VACANT Nurse
1—Term VACANT Parent
1—Term VACANT Parent
1—Term VACANT Behavioral Professional
1—Term VACANT Grandparent
1—Term VACANT Grandparent

ADHOC CEMETERY ADVISORY COMMITTEE
1– Undetermined Term VACANT

PARKS AND RECREATION COMMITTEE
2 – Two Year Terms Expiring 12/31/2026
2 – Two Year Terms Expiring 12/31/2027
1 – Two Year Alternate Term Expiring 12/31/2026

Deadline: Until Filled

COLORADO RIVER INDIAN TRIBES
26600 Mohave Road, Parker, Arizona 85344 Telephone (928)669-1280
Email applications to b.c@crit-nsn.gov or drop off at the Executive Offices.

Follow the link to download an application

2025BOARDAPPLICATIONS_09042025 (002)

Applications for Board of Managers- Amat Kuhwely, LLC

Follow the link for information on qualifications and to download related forms.Board Managers Opening ‘Amat Kuhwely, LLC

Request for Qualifications- Airport Engineering Services

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Happy Birthday Ariana

Happy Birthday to our very own Ariana Romero! She has been flourishing in the Media Department of CRIT going to all the fun events in the community, writing articles, and becoming quite the photographer! Ariana has been a great proactive reporter providing insightful ideas on what the next story should be and how we can best showcase the wonderful CRIT Community. We are lucky to have her on our team and we wish her a wonderful birthday.

Road Maintenance project

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Personhood Status Protects The Life Of The Colorado River

The Colorado River Indian Tribes Tribal Council has made a historic decision to protect the lifeblood of their Reservation. On November 6, 2025, the Council unanimously approved Resolution No. R-375-25, which proclaims the personhood status of the Colorado River under tribal law.

This resolution acknowledges the Colorado River as a living entity whose health and well-being are intrinsically linked to the well-being of the Colorado River Indian Tribes (CRIT) members. The Tribes’ deep-rooted connection to the river spans centuries, providing cultural identity, spiritual strength, food systems, and economic stability that continue to shape their community life today.

The resolution emphasizes the central role the river has played in defining the identity of the CRIT. It highlights that CRIT’s ancestors have preserved and protected these lands since before the establishment of the Colorado River Indian Reservation in 1865.

The Council underscores the crucial role the river plays in sustaining traditional practices, wildlife, and agriculture, including the federal irrigation systems authorized as early as 1867. Today, the Colorado River Indian Irrigation Project stands as a cornerstone of the tribal economy.

The resolution underscores significant legal milestones that acknowledged CRIT’s water rights. In the landmark 1964 and 2006 Arizona v. California U.S. Supreme Court decisions, the Tribes secured 719,248 acre-feet of water annually, ensuring their access to the river for generations to come.

By granting personhood to the River, the Tribal Council reaffirmed its sovereign duty to honor and protect it. This status mandates that the River’s well-being must be a priority in governance and decision-making moving forward.

As part of the resolution, the Attorney General and their staff will develop legal safeguards and propose updates to the CRIT Water Code and other relevant regulations. These updates may include the potential designation of the river as a protected cultural landscape.

Council members recognized that protecting the river is not merely a legal obligation but a continuation of cultural beliefs passed down through generations.

Through this declaration, CRIT demonstrates its unwavering commitment to stewardship. The resolution concludes with a resolute message: the Colorado River is, and will always remain, a vital entity deserving of respect, care, and protection for all future generations.

Article Written by CRIT Media Reporter Ariana Romero

Colorado River Talks Stall, Arizona Calls for Federal Action

News Update November 12, 2025

Negotiations over the future of the Colorado River have reached a standstill after all seven basin states failed to meet a key federal deadline. Reports from 12News and 8NewsNow confirm that the states were unable to agree on a new water-sharing plan, leaving the situation unresolved as the river continues to decline.

High Country News explains that the biggest disagreements involve how much each state should give up in the future. The upper Basin states want fewer mandatory reductions, while the Lower Basin states, including Arizona, say they have already taken the deepest cuts and cannot continue to absorb the majority of the impacts.

With no agreement in place, Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs has asked the Trump administration to intervene. She stated that Arizona has made significant sacrifices and cannot carry the weight of the reductions while other states refuse to commit to measurable cuts. If the states cannot reach a plan soon, the federal government may create one for them.

For the Colorado River Indian Tribes, the outcome of these negotiations has major importance. CRIT holds valuable senior water rights and relies on a stable and fair management plan to ensure long-term security for the community and the region.

For more information, you can read the news articles with the links below.

8NewsNow
https://www.8newsnow.com/news/local-news/colorado-river-negotiations-fail-to-meet-federal-deadline-for-7-state-agreement/

High Country News
https://www.hcn.org/articles/why-colorado-river-negotiations-are-so-difficult/

 

ABC 15 News
https://www.abc15.com/weather/impact-earth/why-gov-katie-hobbs-wants-trump-administration-to-broker-colorado-river-deal

 

12 News
/wednesday-is-deadline-for-7-state-including-arizona-to-negotiate-the-colorado-river

News

42nd Annual CRIT Education Awards Banquet

The CRIT Education Department honored students who achieved Honor Roll and Principals Honor Roll throughout the 2024-2025 academic year at its 42nd annual Education Awards Banquet at the Blue Water Resort & Casino Showroom.

The event recognized academic excellence among CRIT students from Kindergarten through 12th grade, as well as college students and adult learners completing certificates courses.

The Showroom was decorated with balloon arches, fresh floral centerpieces, and twinkling lights.

Guests were treated to a dinner catered by Emerson’s Frybread. Students competed for raffle prizes. Each honored student received a personalized plaque and a Walmart gift card in recognition of their hard work and dedication. (more…)

CRIT Receives $1.1 Million Investment To Assess Irrigation

The Colorado River Indian Tribes is receiving a $1.1 million investment from the Bureau of Reclamation to assess the Colorado River Indian Irrigation Project. The funding will help CRIT review existing infrastructure and identify necessary maintenance. It will also be used to identify potential opportunities to install new equipment and utilize updated technology.

“Irrigation systems on CRIT land need to be studied so that we can make the most efficient use of our water,” said CRIT Chairwoman Amelia Flores.

“This is the first step in a process to modernize an irrigation system that is essential for agriculture on CRIT lands,” said CRIT Councilmember Tommy Drennan.

“We appreciate the Colorado River Indian Tribe’s collaboration for many years on implementing its decreed water rights and the Water Resiliency Act,” said Acting Commissioner David Palumbo. “We look forward to utilizing this funding to further this partnership.” (more…)

CRIT Leaders Attend Law Conference Addressing Natural Resources Including Water

CRIT Chairwoman Amelia Flores and Councilman Tommy Drennan attended the 45th Annual Colorado Law Conference on Natural Resources in Boulder, Colorado June 5th and 6th.

“It was an honor to attend this important gathering which brought together leaders, legal experts, and diverse stakeholders from across the country to address today’s most pressing issues in natural resource law and policy,” said Chairwoman Flores.

While at the conference CRIT Councilman Drennan and Chairwoman Flores met with Senior Department of Interior and Bureau of Reclamation officials to further the goals of the tribes, including finalizing a $1million grant to identify repairs needed on CRIT’s irrigation project.

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CRIT Celebrates Earth Day As Tribal Council Considers Personhood Status For The Colorado River

CRIT’s 15th Annual  Earth Day Celebration May 31 not only featured raffles, music, food, and information booths, it also provided Tribal Members the opportunity to learn about and weigh in on personhood status under Tribal Law for the Colorado River.

The event took place at the Ahakhav Preserve and ran from 8am to 11am.

CRIT Chairwoman Amelia Flores and Councilman Tommy Drennan were on site to provide information and answer questions about the personhood status issue under consideration by the CRIT Tribal Council.

Personhood status would mean that the Colorado River, along with its spiritual and cultural connection to CRIT, has the right to be protected under Tribal Law.  It would acknowledge what members already know and believe, that the River is alive, and it is a part of every Tribal Member.  It would direct current and future Tribal Councils to account for the needs of the River in decision-making as well as giving CRIT legal means to address the damage climate change is causing to the Colorado River. It would state that anyone doing business with CRIT will be required to address the needs of the Colorado River. (more…)

Events

Water Bash July 30

Nuwu Summer Solstice Exchange July 18

Christmas in July- July 25

Colorado River Update Meetings Scheduled

Sandhill Crane Hunting Season Starts November 1st

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Big Horn Sheep Hunting Applications Due July 31

For details visit www.CRITFishandGame.com