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About Us
MISSION STATEMENT
The CRIT Museum staff are committed to protecting and safeguarding tribal antique collections either stored or displayed. Educating tribal members, the community and tourists about the Colorado River Indian tribal history, serving as a resource for departments, schools, programs, CRIT operated enterprises and organizations.
Museum & Gift Shop Visits - Scheduled Tours
The Museum expansion is now complete. There is an Admission fee of $5.00 + tax ($5.10) for Non-CRIT Tribal Members.
The Tribal Council approved the reopening at 100% modifying the mask mandate to "optional" when visiting their organizations, we ask patrons to feel free to wear face masks as you feel necessary. RES. 441-22 24oct22
Our Gift Shop supply's tribal artisans a venue to showcase their wares & crafts for purchase. We also have items to make crafts such as beads, needles, looms, thread, ribbon, lace & fabric. We also carry scarves (sold in sets), jewelry, traditional accessories in addition to books and DVD's. All inventory while supplies last. Come visit.
Group tours, contact 928-669-8970 or email jimi.jackson@crit-nsn.gov.
NO PICTURES, VIDEO, AUDIO RECORDINGS OR PETS WHILE VEIWING THE EXHIBITS!
Photo: Ginger Swick-Scott, Curator/Gift Shop Manager
BUSINESS HOURS
Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm
Saturday's, 10am to 2pm
Closed on Holidays & CRIT Observed Administrative Closures
for your information:
MUSEUM'S PLANNING CALENDAR - Dates/Times/Topics are subject to change.
It is imperative that the cultural intellect be protected and therefore each tutorial session held are not to be exploited but taught for the perpetuation of the Colorado River Indian Reservations' people.
We schedule a variety of traditional crafts, language, singing and dancing to name a few. Registrants are limited to CRIT members. Keep an eye out for posted fliers.
FEBRUARY - Tule Raft construction (Instructor and dates pending)
Week of 20-24: Photo Contests, Ages 5 to 10; 11 to 16; 17 +
25th, Saturday, Day Trip to Fabric District, Los Angeles. Depart 6:30am, Must Register call 669-8970, seats limited.
MARCH -
3rd, CRIT Recognition Day - Mohave Village
7th & 14th Tortilla Making for Kids; 10am to 2pm
30th, Tortilla Making for Adults, 9am to 11am & 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm.
APRIL -
3rd -7th Egg Coloring Contest, Ages 5-10; 11-16; 17+
10th-14th Dress Sewing Class
MAY -
1st-5th Bow & Arrow Construction
8th-12th Mother's Day Raffle Drawing. A Giftshop purchase gets you a ticket for a chance.
15th-19th Gourd Making Class
JUNE -
12-16th Father's Day Raffle Drawing. A Giftshop purchase gets you a ticket for a chance.
First Things First Children's Tribal Book Disbursements, 0-5 years old.
10th-13th Mohave Hair Dye (video)
Live Demonstrators
Scheduled are tribal member artisans who work their crafts while in the Museum exhibit hall. TBA
Can't Find Us?
We're located next to the Safeway and CVS stores in the Moovalya Plaza across from Walmart.
Questions and/or Comments
Please leave us your comments and or suggestions after you have visited our Museum. Let us know your thoughts and experiences. Also, should you have any questions, please advise.
HISTORY OF THE RESERVATION:
MARCH 3, 1865
'The Colorado River reservation was established on the recommendation of Colonel Charles D. Poston, Superintendent of Indian Affairs of Arizona Territory, who held a council with the Indians at La Paz early in 1864. This council was attended by the principal chiefs and leading men of the Yuma, Mojave, Yavapai and Chemehuevi tribes. Soon after making his report and recommendation concerning this reservation Colonel Poston was selected as the Delegate to Congress from the newly organized Territory of Arizona, and it is largely due to his efforts that Congress approved the establishment of a reservation.' C. Girard Davidson, Assist. Sec. of Interior 1947
1865, On March 3, the Colorado River Reservation is established. 75,000 acres of trust lands are set aside from the public domain. Although established for Mohave, Chemehuevi, Hualapai, Yavapai and Quechan the last three tribes refused to move from their ancestral homelands. --Taken from Chronology of Historical Events. CRIT Museum Files
"Our leader, Irataba (Yaratev), saw for himself the reality of the whites in the east, and quickly protected his people by moving them to the most southern valley of their land far from the whites coveting Mohave valley, which is here. His leadership and forethought protected his people and our covenant in to the present day. His proud and dignified leadership caused President Lincoln to legally set aside territory for the Mohave under the laws of the United States on March 3, 1865. This is the reason we have a reservation that still protects us and the land and water and why we celebrate today." Dr. Michel Tsosie, Late CRIT Member/Historian/Former Museum Director.
What to do when you come upon artifacts in the desert:
Often times the Museum gets visits by persons who have in their possession what they believe to be an artifact/s and want to know more about their "finds" so they bring them in. For example, items found while on a trail, in a wash, left by grandparents who've passed and found in garages/attics, estate sales, etc. We appreciate the interests of wanting to learn more about the origins of the items and the desire to do the right thing and "give them back".
Before you come across and inadvertent discovery while trudging the landscape and considering to pick-up a piece of pottery sherd (not shard), or rock art, matate, mono, etc. know that federal and tribal laws govern that these pieces are to be left "insitu" or in its original place. (After November 16, 1990) Penalties are imposed for defacing petroglyphs or items destroyed.
Why? Because these items could very well be left by our ancestors as funerary objects that are deemed sacred or bear human remains within or about them and are now lawfully protected. There are ancestral corridors that exist today where these objects still remain and are often hiked, disturbed by off road vehicles or sifted to the surface by the wind and rains.
Should your curiosity motivate you want to know more about what you've come across a picture and known location could be presented to our Tribal Historic Preservation Office, THPO, 928-669-5822. This is the department that is charged with cataloging, mapping through global positioning system (GPS) and Monitoring of cultural sensitive sites on and off our reservation. The department is located on North 1st Avenue, south of the Parker Indian Health Service, Parker, Az.
Photo Gallery
