September 10, 2026 12:07 pm
CRIT Nation, Parker, AZ
September 10, 2026 12:07 pm
CRIT Nation, Parker, AZ
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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 LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICES
Date: June 25, 2024
Location: Desert Avenue and 9th Street (Western Park) Parker, AZ
Incident: Shooting Investigation
On June 24th at approximately 10:16 pm, CRIT Police Department was contacted by La Paz County Central Dispatch to assist Parker Police Department to Desert Ave and 9th Street (Western Park) in reference to shots fired. Officers arrived on scene to find a male juvenile victim with apparent gunshot wounds located in his vehicle. The male juvenile was pronounced deceased on scene.
Officers from CRIT Police, Parker Police, and La Paz County Sheriffs canvassing the area were able to find evidence that indicated the suspect in the shooting fled the scene on foot. At 10:21 pm CRIT Criminal Investigator was called to respond to scene. Several witnesses in the surrounding area described a male subject in the area fleeing on foot. Description was given to all agencies on scene.
A person of interest was taken into custody on unrelated charges pending investigation. This case is being investigated by the CRIT Police Department, Parker Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigations, and Bureau of Indian Affairs. If you have any information regarding this case, please contact CRIT Police Department TIPS Line at 928-669-5341.
The Arizona Department of Transportation advises drivers to plan ahead for lane restrictions and ramp closures on east- and westbound Interstate 10 in Quartzsite.
The following lane restrictions will occur nightly beginning Monday, June 24, and ending Friday, June 28, for paving:
The following ramp closure will occur:
The following daytime lane restrictions will occur from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. beginning Monday, June 24, and ending Wednesday, June 26, for guardrail repair:
Drivers should plan for delays, obey posted speed limits and traffic control devices and use caution around construction personnel.
Crews have restored power in the Big River area. An outage is impacting customers north of the railroad tracks along the river began around 1:30pm on June 15th
BIA Electric was able to make repairs and power was restored just before 9pm.
Tribal government reponded quickly establishing cooling stations for impacted customers at the BlueWater Resort and at the Big River Baptist Church.
On May 1st, 2024 students and staff from the Colorado River Indian Tribes Head Start program travelled to Avi Suquilla Airport in town for a field trip. They were greeted by Airport Manager Josh Philipps and his staff who explained how the airport worked, how the staff communicated with pilots, and how they fueled the aircraft and ensured safe flights for those coming to and from the airport.
During the trip the students were able to explore many types of aircraft including single propeller aircraft, jets, and medical helicopters. At the end of the field trip the students were treated to an ariel demonstration by a World War Two flying group.
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.
