The Colorado River Indian Tribes of Arizona and California voted this month to give their namesake waterway the same legal rights as a person, saying the ‘living being’ deserves more protection while it’s being threatened by overuse and drought.
“There is no greater expression of sovereignty than protecting, stewarding, and securing for future generations what our Ancestors handed down to us,” the tribes wrote in their resolution. “And that personhood status is a reflection of our values as a people and our spiritual, cultural, and religious connection to the Colorado River from the beginning of time through the end of time.”
The tribes’ leaders say their designation is more than just symbolic. In a column explaining what the vote means to her, Amelia Flores, chairwoman of the Colorado River Indian Tribes, said the tribes hold the senior-most water rights in Arizona for Colorado River water…