Native tribes in the southwestern United States, led by the Colorado River Indian Tribe (CRIT), have granted legal personhood to protect the Colorado River for future generations. In November 2025, CRIT, comprised of the Mojave, Hopi, Navajo, and Chemehuevi tribes, passed a resolution recognizing rivers as living, life-giving entities with the same rights as people.
The Colorado River is currently experiencing its worst drought in 1,200 years.
The seven U.S. states that share the river must reach a new water-sharing agreement by Feb. 14 before the current agreement expires at the end of 2026, or the federal government will step in with its own plan. CRIT believes that our status as human beings can be a start in helping to protect our rivers.
