July 29, 2026 11:31 pm
CRIT Nation, Parker, AZ
July 29, 2026 11:31 pm
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
The CRIT Senior Center held its annual Elders Halloween Party October 31st at the Mo-Ch-Ho-Na Center. The elders enjoyed several games including a cake walk and costume contest. Lunch was also served.
Loretta Lee, Benefits Coordinator and Contact Representative of the Parker Indian Health Center, was on site to provide information on Medicare, changes to purchased referred care, and Arizona Medicaid. Anyone with questions on the presentation can contact Loretta Lee at (928)-669-2137 .
Tribal Council members in attendance included Chairwoman Amelia Flores, Councilwoman Vanessa Welch, Councilwoman Jaymee Moore and Councilman J.D. Fisher.
Senior Center Program Director Jimi Mae Jackson wishes to thank everyone who attended.
CRIT Library recently hosted a read along for the students of CRIT Head-Start with Smokey Bear. The day started off with a short story, “It’s Fall” by Rene Kurilla. Smokey Bear read “Smokey’s story time”. The book touches on camping safety and fire safety and prevention. CRIT Fire was on site to give the kids a tour of their fire engine and other equipment used to help put out fires and save lives.
CRIT’s Revenue and Finance Department recently held a Business License & Tax Workshop at the Blue Water Resort and Casino to give current and potential business owners a look at how tribal businesses ae licensed and regulated. The workshop outlined three primary steps for obtaining a business license.
The workshop also explained the different types of business licenses.
Type one license
A temporary license which consists of 4-day consecutive selling and no further days.
Type two license
A seasonal license which consists of selling for more than four consecutive days and less than three months.
Type three license
An annual business license which consists of selling for more than three consecutive months during the calendar year. Annual business licenses expire on December 31st of the year of issuance.
Type four business license
Peddlers(non-food) license. This license is “retail sales” (non-food sales) for a person or persons who are selling tangible personal property (non-food) at retail.
Type five business license
Peddler (food) license applies to a person or persons selling prepared food items at retail. (more…)
CRIT Head Start hosted its Trunk or Treat event October 31st as a number of departments handed out candy and other goodies to the Head Start students who attended. Head Start Director Caroline Alcadia thanked everyone who attended and helped put the event together. Council members in attendance were Councilwoman Jaymee Moore, Councilwoman Vanessa Welch, Councilman Bobby Page, and Councilman J.D. Fisher.
