CRIT Media Department

09/08/2026

Check out the latest episode of on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts!
Keith Moses and Dee Martinez talk all things NatiVisions Film Festival! If you're interested in film, media, and indigenous filmmaking, this is the podcast for you!

In Episode 2 of 4 Tribes, One Mic, we sit down with Warmon Keith Mo...

09/04/2026

Notre père or Our Father will premiere on Wednesday, September 23rd at Bluewater Cinemas - Parker, Arizona for the opening day of NatiVisions Film Festival. Check out the review of this short film below written by CRIT Media Tech Naythen T. Lowe.

The short film “Our Father” relates the story about a pair of siblings’ commitment to following the exact funeral wishes of their departed patriarch and the final goodbye proving that there is a beauty in the afterlife waiting us. The two main leads, the brother and the sister, start the short film off by bickering away about the coordination and operation of their duties; we get the sense that they’re pressured by the circumstances of an arbitrary situation. But when the reveal of them and their departed father is brought forth, there’s a greater sense of sentiment and relatability when they follow through and give their father a traditional memorial send-off. As a short film, I’m impressed by the technicality and quality of the filmmakers almost feeling like it was a run-and-gun/on-the-fly direction of a story that breezes so quickly that it allows you to want to revisit the filmmaking on screen, especially during the final few minutes and the clean and bright cinematography. Addressing the dialogue, the Caddo language being represented and exemplified on screen by the talent and credits is especially exceptional when I discovered it’s a current language of the Natchitoches people being revived after losing their last native speaker in 2025; this brings the writing and delivery of these lines and the credits a higher level of appreciation and one that must be shared with those larger audiences. This film shows the importance of Indigenous filmmaking at it’s most resourceful and presented with a magnetic touch of humanity that everyone - especially those handling the loss of a loved one - can find beautiful and memorable.

09/03/2026

K**i Smiles will be showing at NatiVisions Film Festival inside Bluewater Cinemas - Parker, Arizona on Thursday, September 24th. Come check out this beautiful short film! You can read the full review from "Cinema Reviews by Naythen T. Lowe" below.

The short film “K**i Smiles” presented here showcases the identity of a character that's grappling with the signature of loss of a parent while upholding and signifying her culture as her bedrock. There is such a beauty with the filmmaking going on on screen that it might just be the unsung hero of the short - the production and cinematography truly make every scene shine with the authenticity of Indigenous Peru seen on screen. The story revolves around a young Peruvian woman named K**i that travels to her extended family home in Peru to engage in the festivities and celebrations of her family and culture with traditional song and dance - her struggle comes in the form of having to acknowledge and grapple with having just lost her mother. Through the involvement of her family and the repairing of her emotional well-being, we see what lies in the acceptance of loss and the embrace and declaration of wanting to carry on one's legacy. So much of this short film surprised me with it’s enrapturing visuals brought by the vibrant color and vivid location/atmosphere of the Peruvian experience on display with the set decoration and spectacular regalia wardrobes - each moments natural flow and engagement feels like you’re transported into the scenes themselves. There’s a great pleasure in watching the story unfold in what feels like a slight cinéma vérité style: raw authenticity matched with such emotion and storytelling unfolding with a grace and patience for the characters and the audience. I do actually believe this would make a great basis for an expanded feature (in my opinion), and I’m very interested in what the filmmakers have to offer up as their next feature; a film like this deserves to be seen as a great showcase on the grandest screen.
4/4 Seals!

**iSmiles

08/28/2026

The official 2026 NatiVisions Film Festival schedule is out! Stay tuned for some great reviews coming your way from Media Tech Naythen T. Lowe. They got some incredible short films, feature length documentaries, and everything inbetween. Make sure to visit Bluewater Cinemas - Parker, Arizona and support Indigenous Filmmaking and CRIT Filmmakers!

🎬✨ The NatiVisions Film Festival 2026 film schedule is officially here! ✨🎥

Join us September 23–26, 2026, at Bluewater Cinemas in Parker, Arizona, for four days of incredible Indigenous films, powerful stories, and unique perspectives from independent filmmakers.

🍿 Make your plans, grab your friends, discover some cool movies, and most importantly—support Indigenous and independent filmmakers!

Check out the full film schedule and start planning your festival days! 🎬

📅 September 23–26, 2026
📍 Bluewater Cinemas | 11378 Resort Dr, Parker, AZ 85344

08/21/2026

Subject Line: Colorado River Indian Tribes Cautiously Optimistic as Federal Decision Preserves Tribal Water Rights

CRIT Responds to Colorado River Operations Decision as Tribal Water Rights Remain Central Concern

(PARKER, Ariz.) The Colorado River Indian Tribes (CRIT) remains vigilant and recognizes the efforts brought forward in the release of the Record of Decision (ROD) for operations of Lake Powell and Lake Mead (2027–2036). The Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) is not imposing illegal water cuts on CRIT that it initially proposed in the draft EIS issued earlier this year.
CRIT recognizes the current water crisis impacts the millions of people who depend on the River including wildlife and natural habitats. CRIT’s own membership residing in the various towns, cities, states will be impacted by water shortages. Indeed, the Tribes’ deep-rooted connection to the River spans since time immemorial.
The ROD cites to formally include Tribal nations including CRIT in the Basin-wide consultation structure. CRIT has been seeking this for years and hopes the BOR keeps to their promise.
On behalf of the CRIT Tribal Council, Chairwoman Amelia Flores states, “The efforts of CRIT have made a difference. The numerous meetings and discussions between CRIT’s Tribal Council and the Bureau of Reclamation have clearly had an impact. In the ROD, the Bureau of Reclamation acknowledged they would follow the decree established in AZ v. California. This is of critical importance to CRIT, which holds the most senior Tribal rights in the Lower Basin.”
Tribal Council Member Tommy Drennan states, “We turn another page in this water crisis. We go forward to defend the river, our allocation, and the voice of our CRIT nation. It is progress, knowing that the US recognizes the need to work towards further solutions until the river recovers. It is progress to know there are no illegal reductions facing our allocation today. We will continue to do what we must to keep the river alive.”
Councilmember Raeanne Patch states, “Given the critical status of the river, tribal consultation is mandatory in every discussion and decision regarding the Colorado River.”
Councilmember Anisa Patch states, “As the river’s natural ability to replenish itself falls further behind, we continue defending our water allocations and traditional lifelines fully aware of the changed landscape ahead.”
Councilmember Tracey Quillen states, “I am proud of the work CRIT has done to bring us to this point, but our work is not finished. We remain vigilant in protecting our water and will continue working together to ensure that our rights are respected and protected for generations to come.”
The ROD preserves the legal status of CRIT’s water rights. It also clarified Reclamation will not rely on misdealing assumptions about CRIT’s water use in the FEIS (Final Environmental Impact Statement) regarding CRIT’s inability to entirely use its water resources.
However, the ROD also introduces a series of two-year operating frameworks under which additional reductions in water supply for central Arizona could be adopted if reservoir conditions worsen. As a result, CRIT will continue to proactively engage with Reclamation and other stakeholders throughout these successive two-year processes to fully protect CRIT’s water rights.
In November, the CRIT Tribal Council voted unanimously to proclaim Personhood Status for the Colorado River, acknowledging the Colorado River as a living entity whose health and well-being are intrinsically linked to the well-being of the Colorado River Indian Tribes (CRIT) members.
While the Tribal Council will stay engaged regarding CRIT’s water allocation, It will also continue to actively address the limitations in water delivery infrastructure which must be addressed by the federal government.
Flores added, “As this water crisis persists, CRIT continues conservation measures to preserve the life of the Colorado River.”

08/21/2026

RECORD OF DECISION IS OUT. READ BELOW OFFICIAL STATEMENT FROM Bureau of Reclamation.
CRIT IS READING THIS OVER NOW AND WILL RELEASE A STATEMENT SHORTLY.

Interior Department Finalizes Plans for 2027-2028 Colorado River Operations
Secretary Burgum signs 2027-2028 Operating Guidelines and Record of Decision

WASHINGTON — The Department of the Interior issued the 2027-2028 Operating Guidelines and the Record of Decision for the Post-2026 Colorado River Operations Final EIS, establishing a 10-year Decision Framework with a broad operational range that will be used to develop future operational guidelines for Lake Powell and Lake Mead. Together these decisions provide for reliable operations of the Colorado River system, delivery of vital water supplies, and protect critical federal infrastructure while preserving the flexibility necessary to respond to Basin states’ voluntary actions, consensus recommendations and the continued prolonged drought. The combined contents of Lake Powell and Lake Mead have not been this low since before Lake Powell began filling following the closure of the gates at Glen Canyon Dam in 1963, with both Lake Powell and Lake Mead hitting record lows the last few weeks.

"We are grateful for the Seven Basin States, the thirty Basin Tribes, Mexico, and many other basin stakeholders who have provided the feedback and voluntary arrangements necessary for the development of the 2027-2028 Operating Guidelines.” said Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum. “Forty million people, millions of acres of farmland and ranchland, industries that power the American West, and some of our nation’s fastest growing metropolitan areas depend on the Colorado River."

The 2027-2028 Operating Guidelines respond to hydrologic conditions and provide flexible tools to protect critical infrastructure at Glen Canyon Dam and Hoover Dam. They were developed after extensive engagement with the seven Basin States and incorporate concepts from proposals from both the Upper and Lower Basins and Basin tribes.

These 2027-2028 Operating Guidelines:

• Provide objective criteria to determine releases from Lake Powell based on actual hydrology and maintaining a minimum elevation of 3,510 feet to support continued operational reliability at Glen Canyon Dam.
• Provides for reductions in deliveries of Colorado River water among the Lower Basin States of 1.25 million acre-feet in each year of the next two years. If the Lower Basin States implement their proposed sharing agreement, the reduction per State would be:
o Arizona: 760,000 acre-feet
o California: 440,000 acre-feet
o Nevada: 50,000 acre-feet
• Provide for Lower Basin States to voluntarily conserve and store at least 700,000 acre-feet of water over the two-year period to protect the system, in addition to the 1.25 million acre-feet per year of reductions.
• Provide for the Upper Basin States to enter into an agreement, in consultation with Lower Basin States and Basin tribes, using the Secretary's authorities to operate the Colorado River Storage Project Upper Initial Units (i.e. Aspinall (CO), Flaming Gorge (UT/WY) and Navajo (CO/NM) Reservoirs) to help protect Glen Canyon Dam infrastructure.
• Provide tools and flexibility in the Lower Basin to respond to drought conditions by allowing water users to store water.
• Provides for a Federally managed pool to help meet tribal firming obligations and provide limited offsetting to reduce tribal impacts.
• Provide elevation triggers for coordination and consultations to determine additional actions, if necessary, to minimize operational risks to infrastructure, and manage risks to the urban, agricultural, and natural systems that rely on the Colorado River.

Reclamation also released today the August 2026 24-Month Study, determining the 2027 operations based on the new guidelines. Lake Powell will begin the October 1 water year between elevations 3,540 and 3,510 feet, placing operations in the Lower Elevation Infrastructure Protection Range with an expected water year release between 6.0 and 7.0 million acre-feet. Reclamation will begin the water year with lower releases between 6.0 and 7.0 million acre-feet in order to attempt to maintain an elevation of 3,510 feet or higher and will adjust releases through April to continue to maintain elevation 3,510 feet. The water year 2027 release volume will be determined in April. For Lake Mead, water deliveries to the Lower Basin States will be reduced by 1.25 million-acre feet for calendar year 2027.

The Decision Framework establishes an operational range that provides the flexibility to develop specific operating guidelines within the 10-year period while preserving the opportunity for Colorado River Basin negotiations to continue and, if successful, be incorporated into years three or four or longer for future operational guidelines. Operational elements include enhanced coordinated reservoir operations and expanded opportunities for the storage and delivery of conserved water in system reservoirs and other flexible water management tools. The Decision Framework prioritizes consensus agreements, voluntary actions, and a commitment to coordination and consultation throughout the period of adoption.

The Decision Framework anticipates operating guidelines in two-year periods and can be scaled longer depending on evolving Basin circumstances. This mechanism leaves room for the Basin States, tribes and stakeholders to adjust these parameters with their own voluntary actions and consensus whenever such agreements are reached.

“These decisions provide a water management strategy for Basin stakeholders to respond to the prolonged drought by incorporating flexible tools and voluntary actions while leaving room for consensus agreements,” said Assistant Secretary — Water and Science Andrea Travnicek. “The Department and Reclamation will continue to work with all Basin stakeholders to identify areas to maximize efforts throughout the Basin to modernize infrastructure, develop conservation programs, and identify innovative approaches to deliver water under changing conditions”.

Since the beginning of the Trump administration, President Trump has made delivering water to people a high priority. The administration has demonstrated a commitment to improving and enhancing water supply within the Colorado River Basin through investments in water storage, distribution, treatment, and improving water efficiency. Specifically in the Lower Basin investments over $3 billion have been made since January 2025.

In April 2026, the Secretary asked for feedback from the seven Basin States on potential water supply and conservation projects throughout the Colorado River Basin during a time of shortage. The administration continues to review the submittals and will work with the Basin States and Basin Tribes to identify opportunities to use available Working Families Tax Cuts funds, and other federal cost-share programs related to water storage and expansion and optimization; desalination and advanced water treatment; and water movement, exchanges and infrastructure.

Background

The NEPA process was initiated in June 2023. Over this three-year period the Department of the Interior and Bureau of Reclamation engaged extensively with Basin stakeholders and that input is reflected in the alternatives analyzed in the Final EIS and the Preferred Alternative of a Decision Framework that would guide future operational guidelines, released on July 31, 2026. The 2027-2028 Operating Guidelines and ROD released today further incorporate extensive feedback from Basin stakeholders. The Final EIS, ROD and 2027-2028 Operating Guidelines are available on Reclamation’s website.

For the past 26 years, the Colorado River Basin has been experiencing an unprecedented multidecadal drought, resulting in historically low runoff and reservoir levels. Conditions worsened during 2026, driven in part by the lowest observed snowpack on record during the winter of 2025-2026. Last week, Lake Mead reached a record-low elevation, highlighting the need for flexible operations that can respond to rapidly changing conditions across the Colorado River Basin.

A separate binational process addressing water deliveries to Mexico is nearing completion and the Department is committed to continued collaboration with Mexico. The Department will conduct all necessary and appropriate discussions regarding post-2026 operations and implementation of the 1944 Water Treaty with Mexico through the International Boundary and Water Commission in consultation with the Department of State.

The Colorado River provides water for more than 40 million people and generates hydropower for seven states. It serves as a vital resource for 30 tribes and two Mexican states, sustaining 5.5 million acres of farmland and agricultural communities throughout the West, while also supporting critical ecosystems and protecting endangered species.

08/14/2026

The Colorado River has faced historic drought and declining reservoir levels for more than two decades. In 2019, the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, and representatives of the seven Colorado River Basin states signed the Drought Contingency Plans (DCP). The plans established coordinated conservation measures to reduce the risk of Lake Mead and Lake Powell falling to critically low levels.

The Colorado River Indian Tribes (CRIT) were among the Colorado River water users that voluntarily agreed to conserve water as part of the DCP. Between 2020 and 2022, the Tribes conserved 150,000 acre-feet of Colorado River water, helping keep additional water in Lake Mead. An acre-foot is enough water to cover one acre of land one foot deep.

CRIT received compensation for the 150,000 acre-feet it conserved. The effort also left approximately 10,000 acre-feet of additional water in Lake Mead. CRIT was not compensated for that portion, which became the Tribes’ Intentionally Created Surplus (ICS).

ICS is conserved water stored in Lake Mead for later use. The Bureau of Reclamation continues to credit the water to CRIT, similar to money held in a savings account. The balance is separate from the Tribes’ regular annual Colorado River allocation, and using it would not reduce CRIT’s allocation in future years.

Two rules govern CRIT’s ICS water. The first involves evaporation. The Bureau of Reclamation accounts for ICS as water stored at the top of the reservoir, making it subject to evaporation losses. Similar to water sitting in an uncovered container, water at the surface is the first to evaporate.

Those losses have reduced CRIT’s original ICS balance from approximately 10,000 acre-feet to 9,009 acre-feet. Water lost through evaporation cannot be recovered, and CRIT does not receive compensation for it. The longer the water remains in Lake Mead, the less CRIT has available to use or receive compensation for.

The second rule limits who may use ICS. It may only be used by the federal government or another entity that also holds ICS. Under the current rules, the Central Arizona Project, commonly known as CAP, and the Gila River Indian Community are the only eligible users for CRIT’s stored water.

CAP has approached Tribal Council about using the water in exchange for compensation. A possible agreement would allow CRIT to receive value from the remaining balance before additional water is lost through evaporation.

CRIT’s ICS is a finite Tribal resource created through conservation. Tribal Council is now considering how to use the remaining 9,009 acre-feet before evaporation further reduces its potential value.

To follow future developments or catch up on news affecting CRIT and the Colorado River, visit the Manataba Messenger at https://critmanatabamessenger.com/



Article written by CRIT Media Reporter Ariana Romero

08/12/2026

Warmon Keith Moses discusses NatiVisions Film Festival entry | Ep. 2 | 4 Tribes One Mic

Preimeres Saturday, September 5th on CRIT Manataba Messenger YouTube. You can also listen on Apple Podcasts and Spotify by searching for 4 Tribes One Mic.
👇🏼
www.youtube.com//podcasts

08/10/2026

On July 31, the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) was released for the Post-2026 Operational Guidelines and Strategies for Lake Powell and Lake Mead. The Colorado River Indian Tribes (CRIT) Attorney General’s Office swiftly responded upon its release. There are major highlights to note in both the comment letter and the FEIS.

The release of the FEIS is the next step in the process of Reclamation implementing an operations plan for the upcoming water year beginning on October 1. We expect a Record of Decision (ROD), where Reclamation will identify the overall operational parameters for Lake Powell and Lake Mead for the next 10 years, to be released later this week.

CRIT’s declaration of Personhood Status has made it into the official federal record through the FEIS. For the first time ever, Reclamation has acknowledged that the Colorado River is entitled to protection under CRIT law. While it may appear to be a small acknowledgment within this massive federal document, its significance should not be overlooked because it recognizes CRIT’s sovereign Tribal law and its role in protecting the River for generations to come.

Reclamation removed pro-rata distribution from the Preferred Alternative, as it had previously told Council they would (read about their visit here https://bit.ly/4z4Yl13). The letter acknowledges that the federal government has stated in the Preferred Alternative that it will not impact Tribal water entitlements and that any water transactions must be between willing parties.

While Reclamation removed pro-rata from the Preferred Alternative, it did not remove the language from its initial listing of alternatives. The Attorney General was clear that CRIT will always oppose any approach that could disregard the established priority system by allocating shortages proportionally among water users, including those with senior rights, instead of following the law and protecting senior Tribal rights.
Despite these important developments, Reclamation did not fully address CRIT’s earlier comments, and concerns remain with the Final EIS. It continues to incorrectly group CRIT with Tribes that receive water through the Central Arizona Project (CAP). CRIT’s water rights are directly from the Colorado River and are acknowledged in Arizona v. California as the senior-most Tribal right on the Colorado River, which makes CRIT’s water rights fundamentally different from those of Tribes in Central Arizona. Therefore, treating CRIT as though it is similarly situated to CAP Tribes is fundamentally wrong and risks obscuring the legal priority and unique status of CRIT’s water rights.

Just as importantly, CRIT again raised concerns about the lack of meaningful Tribal participation in the broader Basin States negotiation process. CRIT’s position is that Tribal Nations must have a meaningful role in shaping the decisions, not simply an opportunity to comment after those decisions have already taken form.

Quickly filing the comment letter before Reclamation takes any action, and identifying the items in the FEIS where Reclamation failed to address CRIT’s comments, are important parts of the legal process necessary to preserve CRIT’s rights for the future.
Read the comment letter in its entirety and the FEIS below.

https://www.usbr.gov/ColoradoRiverBasin/post2026/final-eis/docs/ES/P26_FEIS_ExecSummary_508.pdf

https://critmanatabamessenger.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/L_Colorado-River-Indian-Tribes_Comments-to-BOR-on-Final-EIS-on-Post-2026-Operation-Guidelines-for-Lake-Powell-and-Mead_08022026.pdf



Article written by CRIT Media Director Megan Diaz Easley and Lead Water Attorney John Bezdek

08/07/2026

Statement on Post 2026 Final EIS:

Chairwoman Amelia Flores:
“The Colorado River Indian Tribes appreciates the continued engagement by the Bureau of Reclamation as the Post-2026 Colorado River operations process moves forward. In response to CRIT’s request Reclamation recently reached out to us and walked us through the portions of the final Environmental Impact Statement relating to changes made to the document in response to comments CRIT raised during the process, but we were not shown the entire statement.

We are encouraged that Reclamation has acknowledged in the final EIS the recent action taken by Tribal Council acknowledging the Colorado River is alive and entitled to protection under CRIT Tribal law.We are also encouraged the final preferred alternative does not include allocating shortages on a pro rata basis for all water users, but instead any allocation of shortages would occur through the existing priority system or through agreements between willing parties. As long as federal agencies follow the law CRIT’s senior water rights will be protected.

We remain concerned that the BIA’s failure to properly maintain our irrigation systems adversely impacts on our ability to conserve and properly use our Colorado River water allocation.

We are mindful of the significant shortages that will be borne by tribal and other water users elsewhere in Arizona and we remain hopeful that an agreement between the United States, and the seven basin states that respects tribal sovereignty will be reached.

At the same time, we remain concerned that the highly compressed schedule severely limits our ability to conduct a comprehensive review before the document becomes final. The conversation with Reclamation was helpful, but it was not government-to-government consultation. Going forward, as the preferred alternative is being implemented, CRIT expects true consultation that respects our sovereign status and provides adequate time for meaningful review and input.”

Vice Chairman Dwight Lomayesva:
“This consultation was a good start. Our immediate need is to protect CRIT’s allocation and ensure the federal government follows the law. When received, CRIT will evaluate the final EIS and protect the Tribe’s rights, resources, and future on the Colorado River.”