July 30, 2026 3:22 am
CRIT Nation, Parker, AZ
July 30, 2026 3:22 am
CRIT Nation, Parker, AZ
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
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.
High Country News
https://www.hcn.org/articles/why-colorado-river-negotiations-are-so-difficult/
12 News
/wednesday-is-deadline-for-7-state-including-arizona-to-negotiate-the-colorado-river
Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs was joined by Tribal leaders, including CRIT Chairwoman Amelia Flores, the MMIP Task Force, representatives from the Arizona Department of Public Safety, and the family of Emily Pike for a ceremonial bill signing for HB 2281 (“Emily’s Law”).
This law codifies a new Turquoise Alert which helps law enforcement respond more quickly when Indigenous persons are reported missing.
The Law also honors the memory of slain San Carlos Apache teen Emily Pike, whose body was found Feb. 14 more than 100 miles from a group home she left in Mesa, Arizona, in late January.
After the signing ceremony Charwoman Flores said, “It’s very important to Tribal Nations, especially in Arizona. The Governor signing this bill gives law enforcement a quicker response to find missing and murdered individuals.”
The tragedy of Pike’s death was felt by Tribal communities including CRIT.
During CRIT’s Mega Throw event on March 22nd, a candlelight vigil was held on site to honor Emily Pike. On May 3rd CRIT youth including Junior Miss CRIT along with Little Miss CRIT attended an event at the Arizona State Capitol in Phoenix to honor Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW). Additionally, CRIT Tribal Member Tonia Stone provided her survivor story at the event.
On this Memorial Day, the solemn notes of tribute echoed once again across the sacred grounds where service members, their families, and the wider community gathered to remember and reflect.
Delivering the keynote address was Herman “T.J.” Laffoon, a former CRIT Council member, veteran, and representative of the American Legion. His words were both reverent and urgent—calling on all citizens not only to remember the fallen but to carry forward their legacy through action.
Among the dignitaries in attendance were CRIT Chairwoman Amelia Flores; U.S. Army veteran Edward Yava Sr., a Native American service member and member of the 73rd Airborne, who stands as a living symbol of service and sacrifice; as well as tribal leaders, local officials, and community members gathered in solidarity to honor those who gave their lives in service.
The ceremony paid special tribute to Pvt. Lori Ann Piestewa, of Hopi descent, who was not only the first woman in the U.S. military to lose her life in the Iraq War, but also the first Native American woman to die in combat while serving in the United States Armed Forces. Her father, Terry Piestewa, a Vietnam veteran, once found these memorials too painful to attend. But with time, they became a source of strength—not just for him, but for her children, and for all who remember her legacy. 
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This meaningful event celebrated the dedication and accomplishments of CRIT students as they prepare to embark on the next chapter of their lives. On May 19, 2025, The Colorado River Indian Tribes (CRIT) Education Department proudly hosted the 2025 Stole Ceremony at Parker High School’s Alumni Hall, recognizing the achievements of 45 graduating tribal members.
Councilwoman Anisa Patch, Councilwoman Raeanne Patch, and Councilwoman Tracey Quillen awarded each graduate a customized stole that proudly displayed the CRIT Seals. As the councilwomen presented the stoles, they shared their words of encouragement, pride and congratulations with the graduates.
The event was filled with moments of laughter, joy and unity as families and friends gathered to celebrate the graduates’ achievement.
This ceremony marked a proud moment for the CRIT community, emphasizing the value of education and the the importance of honoring tradition. The Colorado River Indian Tribes extends its heartfelt congratulations to all 2025 graduates and their families.
Governor Hobbs signed into law HB 2281 (missing indigenous person; alert system). Known as Emily’s Law, HB 2281 establishes the Missing Indigenous Person Alert System (Turquoise Alert) to address the crisis of missing Indigenous persons, particularly women and children. This law works to ensure that Indigenous persons receive help from law enforcement and the public as quickly as possible should they go missing.
The bill is especially critical following the tragic case of 14-year-old Ms. Emily Pike, who is memorialized in the name of this legislation. Introduced on January 21, 2025, by Rep. Teresa Martinez (R) with co-sponsors Rep. Brian Garcia (D), Rep. Mae Peshlakai (D), and Rep. Myron Tsosie (D), the bill passed unanimously through the House (59–0) and Senate (28–0) with minor amendments, demonstrating broad bipartisan support.
Governor Katie Hobbs signed the bill into law Tuesday, May 13, 2025. The legislation amends Arizona statutes to create a quick-response alert system under the Department of Public Safety, aiming to ensure timely action for missing Indigenous individuals.
