We want to acknowledge everyone’s hard work with making the PIRA Play Day a success on November 30, 2024, and if we have missed anyone in this thank you, please accept our sincere gratitude.

Ace Hardware, Ahakhav Tribal Preserve, Bingham Equipment, CRIT Farms, CRIT Fire, CRIT HeadStart, CRIT Pow Wow Committee, Early Bird Coffee Shop, Keyah Farms, LaPiazza Pizza, Parker FFA, River Septic, Torres Farms, USA Gas, Safeway and Walmart.

Angie Naranjo, Anthony Rothacher, Beverly Hill, Bruno Carmona, Chris Hill, Erica Daniels, Fabian Castro, Fernando Lugo, Flora Geionety, Giovani Marmoleo, Joe Martinez, John Nelson, Nick Alcaida, Rae Daniels, and Samantha Humeumptewa.

The members of the Parker Indian Rodeo Association: Jimmy Alcaida, Micah Gonzales, Calvin Ray, Belinda Ray, Becky Haley, Bonnie Welty, Eben Pangan, Emmanuel Munoz, Justin (Red) Carmona, Kristian Nopah, Pam Hanson, and Todd Haley.

Lastly, the parents that brought their kids to the event.  PIRA would not have had such a success without the kids!  THANK YOU!

Tribal Council Reforms Will Improve and Expand Agriculture On Tribal Lands

 Parker, Arizona. — Colorado River Indian Tribes (CRIT) Tribal Council announced a major investment in the Tribe’s farming businesses today following a landmark agreement by the Tribe to secure access to financial capital.  Under the terms of the agreement, the Tribe’s existing enterprise, CRIT Farms, will transform into ‘Amat Kuhwely, with an investment of $23 million in the coming years to upgrade and expand CRIT’s farming operation through optimization of the operation, and improving water use efficiency on the Farm.

“CRIT Farms has been the anchor of our agricultural economy and this investment empowers a great economic development opportunity for our Tribe,” said Amelia Flores, Chairwoman of the Colorado River Indian Tribes.  “CRIT’s members have told us that they want the most efficient, effectively run enterprises, and today’s announcement is a big step in that direction, as we grow our farming business.”

Founded in 1973 to provide revenue for the Colorado River Indian Tribes, CRIT Farms has become one of the largest farming operations in Western Arizona.  But after significant growth over the last fifty years, access to additional financial capital is necessary to sustain the Tribe’s position as a market leader.  Plans for bringing previously fallowed acreage back into production, expanding CRIT’s agricultural market reach, as well as developing CRIT’s unused California acreage (and water) are a cornerstone to this investment.

In partnership with CRIT, Indigena Capital will facilitate the investment of tens of millions of dollars to improve water efficiency and administrative capacity on the existing farm and will expand its operations in the coming years.  This investment will provide the capital necessary to address overdue investment in CRIT Farms infrastructure and help the Tribe continue to expand its strong position in the market for years to come.

“Our people must continue to receive the cultural and economic benefits from our water; we accomplished that today,” continued Chairwoman Flores. While Indigena Capital is the financial partner for the farming operation, under the terms of the agreement with Indigena, the tribe will maintain exclusive and sovereign control of CRIT’s water.

After five decades as CRIT Farms, the tribal farming operation is also rebranding as ‘Amat Kuhwely.  The new name—a Mohave language reference for what today is called Parker, the place that was dug, — better reflects CRIT’s ancestral connection to the land and water that provides economic bounty for its people.  “I have often stated that we have always been farmers, and we will always be farmers.   This  reinvestment is a confirmation of that,” said Chairwoman Flores.

The investments on the CRIT Reservation come at a critical time in the Colorado River Basin. As the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation undertakes an ambitious plan—known as the post-2026 guidelines—that will re-work how it manages the River, developing farming operations at CRIT opens a diverse array of additional prosperous opportunities for the Tribe. (more…)

The Colorado River Indian Tribes is moving closer to having high speed internet now that ground has been broken on a project to install a fiber optic network.

The groundbreaking ceremony took place December 18^th outside the CRIT offices. Chairwoman Flores, the Tribal Council, representatives from the USDA, and Ackerman Consulting were among the attendees.

A $25 million grant from the USDA ReConnect program is funding the project to connect CRIT to a high speed fiber optic network spanning 191 miles. The timeline for competition is about five years.

CRIT Chairwoman Amelia Flores says this is not the end of the process as CRIT will be seeking more grant money for continued improvements. Flores said, “What broadband will bring to us will strengthen our sovereignty. It will strengthen future generations.” Flores then picked up a handful of soil and proclaimed, “This is part of us, and we will be bringing the fibers (fiber optic cable) into our soil. Literally we will be bringing into our soil our sovereignty. We will have control of our digital future.”

CRIT Project Coordinator Thai Yang said, “In today’s digital world, reliable internet access is no longer a luxury it is essential for education, businesses, healthcare, and connecting with loved ones. With this broadband expansion we are addressing a critical need and insuring no one is left behind.” (more…)

The Colorado River Indian Tribes is proud to announce work will soon begin on a new broadband project to bring high speed internet to the reservation in the near future.

There will be a groundbreaking ceremony on December 18^th at 10 am near the monument sign at CRIT’s administration building located at 26600 Mohave Road in Parker.

CRIT is moving ahead with its broadband goals following a $25 million grant from the USDA ReConnect program to provide broadband infrastructure and services in rural areas. It will connect CRIT to a high speed fiber optic network spanning 191 miles.

The project is on a five-year timeline and when completed it will provide reliable and fast internet access, empowering CRIT to fully participate in the digital economy.

It will also create a valuable new resource for Tribal enterprises and help create new ones. The fiber optic network will also help students of all ages get improved access to online educational resources, and make it easier for Tribal members to access critical telehealth services.

CRIT Chairwoman Amelia Flores, members of the Tribal Council, representatives from the USDA, and representatives from Ackerman Consulting will be at the ceremony. Ackerman Consulting specializes in engineering broadband networks in rural and tribal communities.