September 10, 2026 8:21 am
CRIT Nation, Parker, AZ
September 10, 2026 8:21 am
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
(Parker, Ariz.) The Colorado River Indian Tribes has broken ground on a new Head Start facility recognizing a dream that has taken years to realize. In 2009, the Tribal Council designated 12 acres for the permanent site and in the years that followed CRIT has worked jointly and tirelessly to get the necessary funding to make the project happen. The ceremony was held April 15th.
CRIT has had a Head Start program since 1965. Generations of former Head Start students and current students were on hand to attend the groundbreaking.
CRIT Chairwoman Amelia Flores said, “This ground has been blessed and is considered sacred; not only because the facility is being built on the grounds but because the land will become fertile soil for our young children. It will bring new life for generations to come, and for our children and babies to come to have hopes and dreams.”
More than 300 people attended the groundbreaking near the corner of Mohave Road and Navajo Avenue.
Attendees included Head Start representatives based in Washington, DC including Shaune Nicholls, and Trevondia Boykin, both of whom are Program Specialists with the American Indian/Alaska Native Head Start.
It was also a special day for Head Start Director Caroline Alcaida, her staff, and the Head Start Policy Council who were all in attendance. Following the groundbreaking, there was a children’s parade featuring the Head Start students as well as cultural performances representing the Mohave, Chemehuevi, Hopi, and Navajo tribes.
(Parker, Ariz.) The Colorado River Indian Tribes have taken a history making step to implement the Colorado River Indian Tribes Water Resiliency Act of 2022. At a ceremony on the CRIT Reservation April 26th, leadership from the Colorado River Indian Tribes, the State of Arizona, and the United States Department of the Interior signed agreements required under the act.
CRIT Chairwoman Amelia Flores and tribal leaders were joined by U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, U.S. Senator Mark Kelly, Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs, and officials from the Department of the Interior and the Arizona Department of Water Resources. The agreements will move CRIT one step closer towards strengthening its sovereignty over its water resources to improve the lives of future generations of CRIT members while protecting the life of the river.
CRIT Chairwoman Amelia Flores said, “These agreements we are signing confirm and support what we have always done; make decisions based on what is best for the life of the river and for our people.” Flores added, “This is a significant event in the history of CRIT. These agreements clear the path for CRIT to be finally recognized as a central party in all future decisions regarding the Colorado River.”
Interior Secretary Haaland said, “I am thrilled to be here to celebrate this historic agreement between the US Department of the Interior, the Colorado River Indian Tribes, and the State of Arizona that will for the first time give the Colorado River Indian Tribes the ability to lease, exchange, or store a portion of its Colorado River entitlement. The agreement will enable CRIT to continue leading with collaborative strategies in support of the resilience of the Colorado River.”
The Colorado River Indian Tribes have taken a history making step to implement the Colorado River Indian Tribes Water Resiliency Act of 2022. At a ceremony on the CRIT Reservation April 26th, leadership from the Colorado River Indian Tribes, the State of Arizona, and the United Staes Department of the Interior signed agreements required under the act.
The Colorado River Indian Tribes Fire Department has some critical equipment to keep fire fighters safe. The department was able to secure new SCBA (Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus) for CRIT fire fighters. This vital piece of equipment helps secure the safety of our fire fighters when entering a structure fire. CRIT Fire says once completion of its procurement process is final, CRIT Fire will be equipped with a total of 14 new SCBAs.
This will help dramatically decrease the chance of smoke inhalation or any form of hazardous vapers or particles floating in the air, along with providing a clean steady flow of oxygen to their masks for breathing.
These SCBA’s were paid for by the tribal homeland security grant with help from grant writer Randy Brawley of Wise Consulting LLC.
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.
