(LAS VEGAS) The Colorado River Indian Tribes (CRIT), the Gila River Indian Community (GRIC) and the Central Arizona Water Conservation District, which manages the Central Arizona Project, have signed an historic proclamation to work together to protect the Colorado River.

The three entities have had differing priorities and goals over the years regarding the River, but those differences do not prevent them from working together to safeguard the Colorado River which is suffering from drought and overuse.

The proclamation was signed during the Colorado River Water Users Association conference where multiple states, local and regional government entities, and the federal government have been trying to reach an accord on river water allocation and use.

CRIT, GRIC, and the CAP hope their proclamation can set an example and demonstrate the need for collaboration and conservation. The resolution states:

The Colorado River Indian Tribes, the Gila River Indian Community, and the Central Arizona Water Conservation District have been collaborative partners on various conservation projects to protect the Colorado River including the Pilot System Conservation Program, the Drought Contingency Plan and innovative water efficiency demonstration projects.

We commit to working on collaborative and creative partnerships that, consistent with our respective principles and values, utilize all the tools that are available to us through the Consolidated Decree in Arizona v. California, the Arizona Water Settlements Act, the 2007 Interim Guidelines, the Drought Contingency Plan, the System Use Agreement, the Colorado River Indian Tribes Water Resiliency Act of 2022, and the Arizona’s Groundwater Management Act, in addition to others.

Together, the Colorado River Indian Tribes, under its laws, including requiring preservation of the River as a living entity, the Gila River Indian Community and the Central Arizona Water Conservation District are committed to protecting the Colorado River and the needs of our respective tribal members while connecting much-needed resources to end users within the Central Arizona Water Conservation District service area.

CRIT Chairwoman Amelia Flores said, “All of us who live in Arizona, native and non-native alike, are connected by water for without water, there is no life.  And it is that common thread that binds us, which has us here today, pledging to work together for the greater good of all who live in Arizona.” CRIT recently took the pioneering step to acknowledge personhood status for the Colorado River under Tribal Law. According to Chairwoman Flores, “CRIT will always put the Colorado River first.” (more…)

by Abigail Wilt
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – Natasha Bowman is a Navajo doula and student midwife. Her work centers around revitalizing traditional birthing through practices that have been overshadowed by Western medicine.

In traditional spaces, families are often there, supporting the mother through labor and birth. One of Bowman’s clients was the first woman in her family to have a home birth since her great-great-grandmother. The client was in the company of other women in her family and for the first time — her father.

Before the woman’s home birth, her father wasn’t allowed to be present for the births of his own children. His wife would labor at the hospital while he was at home and then return with their babies.

It was very different while his daughter was in labor. He was invited into the space and able to console her, rubbing her head and speaking to her as she moaned through contractions.

He sat in the living room during the active birth and told Bowman — through tears — that he wished he would have been there for the births of his children. He had no idea what his wife was going through until he saw his daughter go through it.

“Within the community, bringing in the aunts, the grandmas, the sisters, the cousins, bringing them all within that space, working as a community together. It’s beautiful to see everyone come together at a birth with the women around,” Bowman said.

Bowman explained that traditional births can often involve ceremonies, songs, holistic herbs, tinctures and the use of Native language alongside including family members.

Indigenous medicinal practices, alongside cultural and religious ceremonies, were considerably restricted under the 1883 Code of Indian Offenses, allowing authorities to withhold food, impose extra labor or jail people for up to 10 days for seeking or providing medicine or traditional healing.

Until the Congress passed the American Indian Religious Freedom Act in 1978, Native communities were largely forced to seek care within Western health systems.

“We see that we had our traditional birthing practices long ago. It was taken from us when hospitals came into our communities, and then our traditional birth ways were taken from us. They started telling us it was unsafe,” Bowman said.

Last year, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services approved a Section 1115 waiver, allowing Medicaid to cover traditional healing. On Oct. 1, Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System,  AHCCCS, Arizona’s Medicaid agency, began reimbursing them, making Arizona one of the first states to do so. The initiative “aims to offer culturally appropriate options for eligible members.”

For tribal communities, this progress has been decades in the making.

“I’m really happy that, after over a decade, or to this point, that the advocates in our state didn’t give up and that we just kept moving it forward because we really understood the value of it,” said Kim Russell, the policy advisor at Sage Memorial Hospital on the Navajo Nation.

Hanley Manygoats is a traditional medicine practitioner (Hatalii) on the Navajo Nation. He grew up around traditional healing before becoming a practitioner himself. Lately, Manygoats went from seeing one person a month to three or four a week.

“It’s all part about healing, spiritual healing. It’s all about this being the one with nature, mother earth, father sky,” Manygoats said. “So we have all these stories that go with our traditional healing, our songs, our prayers. So it all starts with the origin stories.”

For many, he said, it’s the first time in decades they’ve been able to experience these healing ceremonies.

“When I do prayers for the elders, they get emotional because they haven’t heard prayers like this in a long time. The last time they had a prayer done was when their grandparents or their fathers and mothers were around. Now they’re gone,” he said.

Though AHCCCS coverage has allowed more people to seek traditional health care, Manygoats said the coverage is limited. (more…)

The Ahakhav Tribal Preserve is a treasured outdoor space for the Colorado River Indian Tribes community. Located along the beautiful Colorado River in Parker, the Preserve offers a peaceful and educational environment where families can explore nature, relax, and learn about the land we call home.

Newly hired Project Administrator, Marisol Chavira, has been dedicated to the Preserve for more than 20 years. Born and raised in Parker, she’s passionate about caring for the land and helping future generations enjoy it. After serving as the Administrative Assistant for many years, she began acting as the Project Administrator in 2021 and officially stepped into the role in November 2025.

Marisol shared that her favorite part about working at the Preserve is the quiet and comfort it brings. “It’s green, beautiful, and peaceful,” she said. “There’s so much for people to enjoy here.” From walking trails and bird watching to designated playground areas for families, the Preserve is an inviting space for all ages.

A typical day for the Preserve team includes maintaining the park, trimming trees, caring for the natural habitat, and working on grants to continue improving the area. One of Marisol’s favorite spots is Willow Beach, a scenic area where families can enjoy the water, shade, and open spaces.

Fall is her favorite season at the Preserve because the changing leaves bring the area to life with color. She even recalled one memorable morning early in her career when a doe fell into a ditch. Without hesitation, she rushed in to help and ended up drenched but proud of what she did. It’s moments like these that show how much she cares for the wildlife and environment.

The Preserve is also home to important cultural resources. Marisol was surprised to learn just how many of the trees and plants hold cultural value and are monitored and preserved with great respect. Restoration continues to be a major focus. A recent grant supports the revegetation of native trees, including cottonwood, willows, and mesquite, helping to restore the natural habitat and strengthen the ecosystem for future generations. (more…)

The Colorado River Indian Tribes Employment Development and Training Department (ED&T) continues to be a vital resource for tribal members seeking support, skills, and employment. Through partnerships with the Department of Labor, Arizona Tribal Workforce, and the Department of Economic Security, ED&T provides job readiness services, education support, and hands-on work experience to those enrolled in a federally recognized tribe. Their mission focuses on promoting general welfare, encouraging educational progress, protecting tribal interests, and helping community members build stable, independent futures.

The department offers a wide range of services designed to meet people where they are. Community members can receive help studying for a driver’s permit or license, creating resumes and cover letters, preparing job applications, and building job readiness skills. ED&T also assists with obtaining needed documents such as a GED or ID. For those looking to gain work experience, the Adult Work Experience program offers a 90-day on-the-job training period with the goal of permanent employment once training is complete. High school and college students can participate in the Summer Youth Experience Program, which provides hands-on workplace exposure during summer break. When needed, ED&T also provides supportive services such as work clothing, tuition assistance, certifications, testing fees, and education supplies if those items cannot be obtained through another program.

Click the links below to upload needed forms

Updated Adult Pre Application

UPDATED SUPPORTIVE SERVICE FORM 2025

The department is guided by a committed team dedicated to helping the community move forward. Acting Director and Case Worker Kaye Antone works closely with participants to understand their goals, explore their interests, and determine what support they may need. Office Administrator Madolyn Brenner reviews applications, assists staff, and helps maintain a welcoming and organized department. Office Assistant Deaun Johnson and ED&T participant supports daily operations, helps participants with questions, and ensures they receive assistance quickly and respectfully. Together, the team works one-on-one with community members and emphasizes the importance of offering help confidentially and with care, recognizing that every situation is different. (more…)

(Parker, Ariz.) CRIT’s Tribal Council has voted to acknowledge personhood status for the Colorado River under Tribal Law. The Tribal Council approved the resolution on November 6^th.

Click the link below to see the entire resolution.
personhood resolution

The council’s decision came after soliciting substantial input from Tribal Members in person and in writing through numerous outreaches.

Other Tribes have approved similar measures to safeguard natural resources. CRIT would be the first community to do so for the Colorado River. The status comes as overuse and drought are threatening the life of the River which CRIT considers to be a living entity in addition to being a life-giving resource.

Personhood status means the Colorado River has the right to be protected under Tribal Law.  The status directs current and future Tribal Councils to account for the needs of the River in decision-making as well as giving CRIT legal means to address the damage climate change is causing to the Colorado River.

The resolution states in part:

“There is no greater expression of sovereignty than protecting, stewarding, and securing for future generations what our Ancestors handed down to us, and that personhood status is a reflection of our values as a people and our spiritual, cultural, and religious connection to the Colorado River from the beginning of time through the end of time;”

CRIT’s Attorney General and staff will be developing provisions for Tribal Council review and possible approval for inclusion in the tribal code, including the Water Code, to reflect the personhood status of the Colorado River as well as all the protections to which the Colorado River will be entitled under tribal law.

CRIT Chairwoman Amelia Flores said, “This resolution authorizes CRIT to take specific and concrete actions for the river and its ecosystem at a time when, more than ever, it is needed.  Within Arizona, CRIT will be inevitably asked to help shoulder the burden of maintaining Arizona’s economy and way of life.  This must be a two-way street, however.  At CRIT we are prepared to engage and be part of the solution for Arizona, but part of the solution is the long-term protection of our river.  The river is a part of who we are and who we will always be: The Colorado River Indian Tribes.”