September 10, 2026 4:28 pm
CRIT Nation, Parker, AZ
September 10, 2026 4:28 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
Scottsdale Ferrari Art Week will feature a unique rendering of the Colorado River which will be painted Wednesday March 19th at the CRIT reservation next to the BlueWater Resort and Casino.
The art fair takes place March 20-23 in Scottsdale and will feature works of art from some 100 galleries worldwide.
The artist will donate 50% of the sale of that painting to CRIT.
Artist Ben Miller will create this work using thousands of singular casts with a fly rod. Miller calls this process ‘Fly Cast Painting’ and terms the various shaped materials on the end of the rod ‘Fly Brushes’. He is inviting members of CRIT to watch him as he creates this painting on March 19th from 8am to 4pm.
CRIT Royalty hosted an Elder Bing event on March 13th. The group wanted to be more engaged with their tribal elders and decided to hold the event during spring break. Winners were able to choose from a collection of prizes donated by CRIT Royalty and the Royalty Board Members.
CRIT Chairwoman Amelia Flores, Secretary Josephine Tahbo and Councilwoman Vanessa Welch attended the event.
CRIT Royalty thanks the CRIT Mo-Chem-Ho-Na senior center and everybody who was able to attend.
CRIT Royalty would also like to remind CRIT members about the upcoming Mega Throw which will be held at the Ahakhav Tribal Preserve (25401 Rodeo Dr, Parker, AZ 85344) as well as their upcoming 50/50 raffle, both of which will take place March 22nd to March 23rd.
The Colorado River Indian Tribes Police Department welcomes Officer Trevor Butler-Smith who was recently sworn in at the Tribal Courthouse by Judge Raymond Dodge.
Officer Butler-Smith is a recent graduate of the Arizona Western College Law Enforcement Training Academy having completed a 5-month program.
CRIT Chairwoman Amelia Flores and CRIT Chief of Police Cody Paddock were in attendance to welcome this addition to the Colorado River Indian Tribes Police Department. The officer’s family also attended the ceremony.
TUCSON, Ariz. — The University of Arizona will host a special series of sign unveiling ceremonies on Friday, September 4, 2026, honoring the four languages of the Colorado River Indian Tribes (CRIT): Mohave, Chemehuevi, Hopi, & Navajo. These ceremonies represent an important milestone in an ongoing campus-wide initiative to elevate the visibility, recognition, and continued presence of Indigenous languages and cultural heritage within the campus community.
The events are organized by the University of Arizona’s Office of Native American Advancement & Tribal Engagement (NAATE) in collaboration with individual academic colleges. Students, faculty, staff, tribal community members, and the general public are invited to attend the progression of ceremonies throughout the day.
The schedule for the Friday ceremonies includes:
The celebration of Indigenous culture continues into the weekend with the Native American Heritage Game on Saturday, September 5, 2026. The Arizona Wildcats will face Northern Arizona at Casino Del Sol Stadium, with kick-off scheduled for 6:30 PM MST. Pre-game festivities at Bear Down Field will begin at 3:15 PM with the Bear Down Bash, featuring 18-minute cultural performances from each tribe. A traditional gift presentation will follow during the Wildcat Walk at 4:15 PM, leading up to an on-field tribal recognition ceremony during the second quarter of the football game.
For more operational schedules or to register for the unveiling events, please visit the official University of Arizona Event Page.
