The Colorado River has long been considered a lifeline for the Southwest and an Arizona tribe is now acknowledging that waterway as having the same rights and legal protections as fellow members.
When asked, the Colorado River Indian Tribes (CRIT) would not tell KJZZ whether that decision was unanimous, but the nine councilmembers still voted on Nov. 6 to recognize personhood for the namesake river under tribal law.
The official designation comes at a pivotal time when sustained drought threatens this precious natural resource — which CRIT considers “a living entity” — running parallel to the nearly 300,000-acre reservation along the California border.
This measure also tasks tribal councils to take the Colorado River’s needs under consideration amid an uncertain future on two fronts: climate change and ongoing inter-state water negotiations.
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Last month, the seven Upper and Lower Basin states failed to come up with new terms defining how the Colorado River is to be shared — after missing a federal deadline set by the Interior Department. -
After finally being sworn in following a historic seven-week delay, Arizona Congresswoman Adelita Grijalva is using her first legislative act to fulfill a campaign promise she made to tribes in Arizona and across Indian Country. -
This newer holiday tradition began with the White Mountain Apache in 2023, followed by the San Carlos Apache last year. Now the state Capitol tree will come from the “People of the Tall Pines” — or Hualapai. -
It’s not every day you get to see an eagle — let alone two — alive and up close. But it’s something visitors of Liberty Wildlife did recently while blessing these animals during the nonprofit’s third annual Native American wildlife celebration. -
Last week, more than a dozen tribes across the U.S. commented on a new proposal by the Trump administration to let developers obtain preliminary permits for hydropower projects on reservations in spite of tribal opposition.
