September 10, 2026 2:18 pm
CRIT Nation, Parker, AZ
September 10, 2026 2:18 pm
CRIT Nation, Parker, AZ
Follow the link below for the propsed amended code
2026 Amended and Restated Gaming Code_Public Hearing
Follow the link below to download an application.
CRIT Tribal Board Vacancies Application 2026
The Colorado River Indian Tribes (CRIT) Water Resources Department is now accepting proposals for Drain Cleaning and Mechanical Vegetation Management services for the Colorado River Irrigation Project (CRIP) near Parker and Poston, Arizona.
This project supports the continued care and functionality of CRIT’s irrigation system, which is vital to agricultural operations and stewardship of the Colorado River. Qualified contractors are encouraged to review the full Request for Proposals and submit by the stated deadline.
For full details, submission guidelines, and requirements, click the link below.
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 Colorado River Indian Tribes is moving closer to having high speed internet now that ground has been broken on a project to install a fiber optic network.
The groundbreaking ceremony took place December 18th outside the CRIT offices. Chairwoman Flores, the Tribal Council, representatives from the USDA, and Ackerman Consulting were among the attendees.
A $25 million grant from the USDA ReConnect program is funding the project to connect CRIT to a high speed fiber optic network spanning 191 miles. The timeline for competition is about five years.
CRIT Chairwoman Amelia Flores says this is not the end of the process as CRIT will be seeking more grant money for continued improvements. Flores said, “What broadband will bring to us will strengthen our sovereignty. It will strengthen future generations.” Flores then picked up a handful of soil and proclaimed, “This is part of us, and we will be bringing the fibers (fiber optic cable) into our soil. Literally we will be bringing into our soil our sovereignty. We will have control of our digital future.”
CRIT Project Coordinator Thai Yang said, “In today’s digital world, reliable internet access is no longer a luxury it is essential for education, businesses, healthcare, and connecting with loved ones. With this broadband expansion we are addressing a critical need and insuring no one is left behind.” (more…)
The Colorado River Indian Tribes is proud to announce work will soon begin on a new broadband project to bring high speed internet to the reservation in the near future.
There will be a groundbreaking ceremony on December 18th at 10 am near the monument sign at CRIT’s administration building located at 26600 Mohave Road in Parker.
CRIT is moving ahead with its broadband goals following a $25 million grant from the USDA ReConnect program to provide broadband infrastructure and services in rural areas. It will connect CRIT to a high speed fiber optic network spanning 191 miles.
The project is on a five-year timeline and when completed it will provide reliable and fast internet access, empowering CRIT to fully participate in the digital economy.
It will also create a valuable new resource for Tribal enterprises and help create new ones. The fiber optic network will also help students of all ages get improved access to online educational resources, and make it easier for Tribal members to access critical telehealth services.
CRIT Chairwoman Amelia Flores, members of the Tribal Council, representatives from the USDA, and representatives from Ackerman Consulting will be at the ceremony. Ackerman Consulting specializes in engineering broadband networks in rural and tribal communities.
CRIT Chairwoman Amelia Flores was reelected in Tribal Council Elections held December 7th. She received 337 votes.
Councilwoman Vanessa Welch was reelected with 410 votes. Also elected to the Tribal Council were Tracey Quillen (460 votes), Tommy Drennan (316 votes), and Raeanne Patch (262 votes).
There were four candidates for Chair and 21 for Tribal Council. All vote totals are below.
Chairperson Results
Johnson “JD” Fisher- 288
Keith Moses- 136
Richard Armstrong- 153
Amelia Flores-337 (more…)
(LAS VEGAS) Water conservation and preservation have taken a giant leap forward for the Colorado River and the Colorado River Indian Tribes. CRIT Chairwoman Amelia Flores has signed an historic Letter of Intent with the Bureau of Reclamation in which the BOR has agreed to fund a $5 million study of a re-regulating reservoir on the CRIT Reservation. This reservoir could save as much as 35,000 acre-feet of water a year at a time when severe drought conditions persist, and when water is currently being lost due to inefficiencies in Bureau of Indian Affairs operated irrigation systems.
The reservoir would help CRIT make better use of water the Supreme Court allocated to the Tribes and enable CRIT to put more than 5,000 acres of additional land in production.
Chairwoman Flores said, “I learned from my ancestors that our creator, Matavilya and his son provided the Colorado River for the Mohave and other indigenous peoples who live along its banks. Matavilya also entrusted all of us with the sacred responsibility to care for and sustain the river and the environment that gives us life.”
The Study will also evaluate creating an associated wetland. To that end CRIT has partnered with the National Audubon Society and the Walton Family Foundation to protect CRIT’s water resources in a way that also protects its lands, fish, wildlife, birds, and ultimately its people. Chairwoman Flores added, “I am thankful for their constructive engagement and welcome them as partners in this project.” (more…)
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.
