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Tribal leaders press Arizona Legislature to be included in Colorado River talks, stress water stewardship and economic contributions
Summary
At the 30th Indian Nations and Tribes Legislative Day, tribal leaders told the Arizona Legislature that tribes must be included in Colorado River negotiations, warned that the 2007 interim guidelines are expiring, and highlighted tribal water rights, border-security costs, and billions contributed under tribal-state gaming compacts.
Steve Montenegro, speaker of the Arizona House of Representatives, opened the joint protocol session for the 30th annual Indian Nations and Tribes Legislative Day, welcoming tribal leaders to the State Capitol and calling the event an opportunity for direct input into the 2025 legislative session.
Timothy Williams, chairman of the Fort Mohave Indian Tribe, told legislators that "that responsibility begins with water," and urged that tribes be included in ongoing negotiations over the Colorado River. Williams said 22 Arizona tribes hold federally recognized water rights — many senior on the river — and warned that the 2007 interim guidelines were approaching expiration in September, raising the prospect of federal involvement if the basin states do not reach consensus.
"These decisions being made now will define how the river is managed for generations," Williams said, urging lawmakers to "reach out to tribes and ensure the agreements made include the tribes." He described tribal investments in education and services, citing Anyaipak Elementary School as an example of a tribal-funded program that embeds language and culture in schooling.
Berlin Jose, chairman of the Tohono O'odham Nation, said his nation covers roughly 2,800,000 acres and has more than 37,000 enrolled members (he also noted about 3,000 members living in Mexico). Jose framed water as sacred and central to tribal identity and said "any reduction in water allocations would have a profound impact across our communities in Arizona." He urged cooperation across local, tribal, state and federal levels to protect water resources.
Jose also described tribal partnerships on border security, saying the nation has invested in checkpoints, vehicle barriers and integrated towers and that those measures, he said, have helped reduce crossings on nation lands. He told the Legislature the nation spends "approximately $3,000,000 plus annually on border security" (as stated in his remarks) while noting the nation opposes a fixed border wall.
On economic issues, Jose highlighted tribal gaming and compacts, saying Arizona tribes have contributed more than $2.4 billion to state and local governments under tribal-state compacts. He described gaming revenue as a key source for tribal investments in utilities, telecommunications, health care, roads and other services that benefit both tribal members and surrounding communities.
Dr. Laura Tohi, identified in the session as Arizona State Poet Laureate and a retired Arizona State University English professor, delivered a poetry reading that linked cultural memory, language preservation and water stewardship. Earlier in the program, Bobby Stone of the Gila River Indian Community offered a blessing and Tohono O'odham women veterans presented the colors.
The session closed after brief remarks from legislative leaders. There were no formal motions or votes during the protocol session; remarks were ceremonial and informational and intended to begin conversations for the legislative year ahead.
What happens next: leaders urged continued government-to-government engagement and requested that legislators and staff consult with tribes as Colorado River negotiations and related legislative work progress.
