Reporting from Arizona Republic’s Debra Utacia Krol says - The Colorado River Indian Tribes have officially granted personhood status to the Colorado River — making it the third river in North America to receive such legal protections. The Tribal Council approved the resolution on November 6th in Parker, Arizona, affirming the tribe’s belief that the river is a living being vital to their culture and survival.
Chairwoman Amelia Flores said the river is “in jeopardy,” and that personhood status will allow the tribe to include the river’s needs in future water transactions, support restoration projects, and take legal action against pollution or harm.
The move follows similar actions by the Yurok Tribe in California and Indigenous groups in Canada, part of a growing global effort to recognize natural entities as having legal rights to exist and thrive. Flores says the decision reflects the deep connection between the Colorado River Indian Tribes and the river that sustains them.
