July 30, 2026 12:09 am
CRIT Nation, Parker, AZ
July 30, 2026 12:09 am
CRIT Nation, Parker, AZ

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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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)

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.

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.

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

CRIT’s first monthly staff meeting of the year included an introduction to incoming Tribal Council Members Tracey Quillen and Tommy Drennan as well as remarks from Chairwoman Amelia Flores.

Human Resources Specialist Regina Pretends-Eagle started off the meeting by greeting and thanking all the employees for their hard work.
Councilwoman Quillen said she is grateful for the opportunity to be on Tribal Council, she let the employees know that “her door is always open”. Councilman Drennan expressed deep gratitude for being able to serve on Tribal Council.

Chairwoman Flores told the group, “We see you guys working hard and we are grateful for the hard work you all put in for the Tribes” She also spoke of a proverb “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together”.

 

Aerocare Global Medical Response Solutions in partnership with the Colorado River Indian Tribes unveiled their new Education Center at the Avi Suquilla airport on Thursday January 23rd.

The program uses two helicopters and one fixed wing airplane.
These aircraft will provide lifesaving flights for patients in emergency situations as well as providing staff with hands-on training during their down time.

“The Clinical Education Center will be a space for EMS professionals and agencies from throughout the area to maintain, improve and test their clinical care skills,” said Jim Hiatt, program director at Aerocare. “This resource provides an established space dedicated to improving the emergency medical care and outcomes for the community members of Parker and the surrounding areas.”

At the ribbon cutting, Aerocare thanked the Colorado River Indian Tribes, The Town of Parker , and the staff at the Avi Suquilla Airport. (more…)

CRIT Chairwoman Amelia Flores delivered a message emphasizing water rights and tribal sovereignty as one of three tribal leaders who addressed the Indian Nations and Tribes Legislative Day January 15th at the Arizona State Senate Chambers. It was the event’s 30th year.

Chairwoman Flores said this is a critical time for the Colorado River, “The decisions we make about how we share and use this living resource will directly impact our children and our grandchildren.”

As climate change, population growth, and drought impact the Colorado River, Chairwoman  Flores told the gathering of tribal leaders and Arizona lawmakers, “My Tribe is engaged in a great struggle, not just to project our great river but to protect the very essence of our identity.”

Flores thanked Arizona lawmakers for their support in federal legislation that gave CRIT the authority to allow for the use of its water off reservation land, if CRIT chooses to do so.

Flores said the CRIT Water Resiliency Act gives CRIT control as to how, where, and when its water is used. But she says the fight isn’t over, “Despite the passage of our Act, our water rights continue to be under attack. But rest assured, CRIT will protect our water rights. We always have and we always will.” (more…)