Update : CRIT has extended the deadline date for the General Welfare Application from Oct 17 to Oct 24th at 5pm.
Please click the links to upload related forms
DirectDeposit_ZionsBank_2025_GWP
General Welfare Application Minors_09132025
General Welfare Application_Adult_09132025
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.
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.
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
Follow the link for information on qualifications and to download related forms.Board Managers Opening ‘Amat Kuhwely, LLC
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
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.
Robert Esquerra started his career with the Colorado River Indian Tribes on October 18, 1999 as a EMT with CRIT Fire Department. In March of 2002 he went to Head Start as their maintenance worker. He then transferred to CRIT’s Department of Health and Social Services as a driver.
In 2004, Esquerra returned to the CRIT Fire Department as an EMT/Firefighter. In 2006 he was promoted to Captain for the Fire Department and in 2012 Esquerra was promoted to Assistant Fire Chief, the position he still holds today.
The Tribal Council and Human Resources Department thank Robert Esquerra for 25 years of continued service to the Colorado River Indian Tribes.
The Rock the Rez tour presented by CRIT ASAP (Alcohol Substance Abuse & Behavioral health services program) CRIT SDP (Special Diabetes Program), kicked off October 28th at Le Pera Elementary.. At Le Pera, the day began with a full court sprint and push up challenge, followed by a hoop shooting contest. The Reservation All-Stars basketball team gave out prizes to those who got the chance to participate. They also showcased their basketball skills on October 28th at the Irataba Hall Gym. The special diabetes program offered participants healthy food options and free tee-shirts.
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.
