Colorado River Indian Tribes

The Colorado River Indian Tribes is a federally recognized tribe consisting of the four distinct ethnic groups associated with the Colorado River Indian Reservation: Chemehuevi, the Mohave, Hopi, and Navajo. The tribe has about 4,277 enrolled members. A total population of 9,485 currently resides within the tribal reservation according to the 2012-2016 American Community Survey data.[2]

Colorado River Indian Tribes
Tribal Flag
Total population
4,277[1]
Regions with significant populations
 United States
( Arizona,  California)
Languages
Colorado River Numic language, Hopi, Mojave, Navajo, and English
Related ethnic groups
other Chemehuevi, Mohave, Hopi, and Navajo people

History

The reservation was established on March 3, 1865, for "Indians of said river and its tributaries."[3] Initially, these were the Mojave and Chemehuevi, but Hopi and Navajo people were relocated to the reservation in 1945.[4] John Scott designed the tribal seal in 1966, with four feathers to represent the four CRIT tribes. Margie McCab designed the tribal flag, which the tribe formally adopted in 1979.[1]

Reservation
Junior Rodeo on the Colorado River Indian Reservation, 1972

The Colorado River Indian Reservation is a Native American reservation in the southwest United States. Its territory is primarily in western La Paz County, Arizona, with smaller portions in southeastern San Bernardino,[4] and northeastern Riverside counties, California. It has a total land area of 1,119.4445 km2 (432.22 sq mi), most of it within Parker Valley. It borders the Palo Verde Valley in the southwest boundaries. Tribal headquarters are in Parker, Arizona. Tribal members mainly live in communities in and around Parker, the largest community, and Poston.[1] The 2000 census reported a population of 9,201 persons residing on the reservation.

Government
The Colorado River Indian Reservation

The tribe and its reservation territory is governed by an elected council of nine members and overseen by a tribal Chairman, Secretary, and Treasurer. These officers are elected from among the council members. The four tribes continue to maintain and observe their traditional ways and religious and culturally unique identities.

The current administration is:

  • Chairman: Dennis Patch
  • Vice-Chairman: Keith Moses
  • Tribal Secretary: Amelia Flores
  • Tribal Treasurer: Granthum Stevens
  • Council Member: Thomas "Tommy" Drennan
  • Council Member: Johnny Hill, Jr.
  • Council Member: Anisa Patch
  • Council Member: Johnson "J.D." Fisher
  • Council Member: Robert "Bobby" Page

Economic development
Wheat fields along the Colorado River at the Colorado River Indian Reservation. Wheat, alfalfa and melons are among the most important crops here.
View of the Colorado River and the marina and riverside facilities of the Bluewater Resort and Casino
Entrance to the Bluewater Resort and Casino, in Parker

The economy for the tribe is based on light industry, government, recreation, and agricultural, specifically growing commodity crops of alfalfa, cotton, lettuce, and sorghum.[4] The Colorado River Indian Tribes (CRIT) has senior water rights to divert up to 719,248 acre feet of water from the Colorado River, which represents nearly one-third of the allocation for the state of Arizona.

The tribe operates BlueWater Resort and Casino, located about two miles (3 km) from downtown Parker, as a tourist destination on the Colorado River.[1] It opened in June 1999. The casino is 30,000 square feet (2,800 m2) and has more than 500 slot machines. The resort features a 200-room hotel, a 10,000 square feet (930 m2) bingo hall, an indoor water park, movie theater, video arcade, marina, and concert facilities.[5]

The Colorado River Indian Tribe Museum and Gift Shop is in Parker, Arizona,[6] and has displays of historical and contemporary artworks, especially ceramics, made by tribal members.

Communities

Notable tribal members
  • Jacoby Ellsbury (b. 1983), baseball center fielder with the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees of Major League Baseball
  • Veronica Murdock (born 1944), tribal vice chair and first woman president of the National Congress of American Indians

See also

Notes
  1. "About the Mohave, Chemehuevi, Hopi and Navajo Tribes". Colorado River Indian Tribes. Retrieved November 22, 2015.
  2. https://www.census.gov/tribal/?aianihh=0735
  3. Fletcher, Alice Cunningham (1888). Congressional Serial Set. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 199.
  4. "Colorado River Indian Tribes". Inter Tribal Council of Arizona. Retrieved November 22, 2015.
  6. "CRIT Museum & Gift Shop". Colorado River Indian Tribes. Retrieved November 22, 2015.

References

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