Colorado River Indian Tribes facts for kids
| 'Aha Havasuu (Mohave) Tó Ntsʼósíkooh Bibąąhgi Bitsįʼ Yishtłizhii Bináhásdzo (Navajo) |
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|---|---|
Tribal flag
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| Total population | |
| 4,277 | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
 United States(  Arizona,  California) |
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| Languages | |
| Colorado River Numic language, Mojave, Navajo, Hopi, English | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| other Mohave, Chemehuevi, Hopi, and Navajo people |
The Colorado River Indian Tribes (often called CRIT) is a group of Native American people. They are made up of four different tribes: the Mohave, Chemehuevi, Hopi, and Navajo. These tribes live together on the Colorado River Indian Reservation.
About 4,277 people are official members of the tribe. The reservation is home to around 9,485 people. The tribes are officially recognized by the United States government.
Contents
History of the Colorado River Indian Tribes
The Colorado River Indian Reservation was created on March 3, 1865. It was first set up for the Mohave and Chemehuevi people. Later, in 1945, Hopi and Navajo people also moved to the reservation.
The tribal seal was designed in 1966 by John Scott. It has four feathers, which stand for the four tribes of CRIT. The tribal flag was designed by Margie McCabe. The tribes officially started using this flag in 1979.
The Colorado River Indian Reservation
The Colorado River Indian Reservation is a large Native American reservation in the southwestern United States. Most of its land is in western La Paz County, Arizona. Smaller parts are in southeastern San Bernardino and northeastern Riverside counties, California.
The reservation covers about 1,119 square kilometers (432 square miles). Much of this land is in an area called Parker Valley. The tribal headquarters are in Parker, Arizona. Most tribal members live in or near Parker, which is the biggest town. They also live in Poston. In the year 2000, about 9,201 people lived on the reservation.
Economy and Life on the Reservation
The economy of the Colorado River Indian Tribes is based on several things. These include light industry, government jobs, tourism, and farming. Farmers on the reservation grow crops like alfalfa, cotton, lettuce, and sorghum.
The tribes have important rights to use water from the Colorado River. They can use a large amount of water for their farms and communities. This water is very important for their way of life.
The tribes also own and operate the BlueWater Resort and Casino. This resort is a popular place for tourists on the Colorado River. It opened in June 1999. The casino has many slot machines and is quite large.
The resort also has a hotel with 200 rooms. There is a big bingo hall, an indoor water park, a movie theater, and a video arcade. Visitors can also enjoy the marina and concert areas.
The Colorado River Indian Tribe Museum and Gift Shop is in Parker, Arizona. It shows historical and modern art made by tribal members. This includes beautiful pottery.
Communities on the Reservation
- Bluewater, Arizona
- Bluewater, California
- Parker, Arizona (This is where the main tribal offices are)
- Poston, Arizona
Notable Tribal Members
- Jacoby Ellsbury (born 1983), a famous baseball player who played for the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees.
- Veronica Murdock (born 1944), she was a tribal vice chair and the first woman president of the National Congress of American Indians.
See also
In Spanish: Tribus indias del río Colorado para niños
