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.

The Arizona Department of Liquor Licenses and Control (ADLLC)  Alcohol Awareness class was a recent outreach effort and community school event, where youth were presented with the concerns and dangers associated with underage drinking, and life ramifications thereafter. Thanks to everyone who made it possible.

A pair of recent power outages saw CRIT take action to ensure the health and safety of its members. A BIA outage impacted about 100 customers on June 7^th. Power was restored by midafternoon.  CRIT operated a number of cooling stations for those needing assistance.

A much larger outage effecting about 1,000 APS customers impacted the CRIT reservation and the Town of Parker on June 10^th. CRIT once again opened cooling stations and initiated emergency plans. The outage began just after midnight. Full power was restored around 1pm that day.

The Sourdough fire burned about 715  acres before it was contained June 8th.  The Sourdough Fire  started on Wednesday, June 5th. Ground crews and aircraft battled the flames north of Ehrenberg.  On June 6th, Nevada Team 3 took over management of the fire and provided extensive support in containment and securing the perimeter of the fire.  CRIT Chairwoman Amelia Flores and members of the Tribal Council were regularly briefed on the efforts to control and contain the fire.

CRIT Chairwoman Amelia Flores recently attended a tribal leader roundtable with United States Interior Secretary Deb Haaland and Congressman Dr. Raul Ruiz to support the designation of the proposed Chuckwalla National Monument and expansion of Joshua Tree National Park. The meeting took place in North Shore, California.

CRIT was invited by Chairman Thomas Tortez Jr. of the Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians.

Chairwoman Flores spoke about the importance of protecting the fragile landscape that would make up the Chuckwalla National Monument.

(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.