Chris Picciuolo

News reporter

(480) 274-7252 - Chris.Picciuolo@SRPMIC-nsn.gov
Chris Picciuolo is from Aurora, Illinois. Previously, he worked as a photojournalist for the Ak-Chin O'odham Runner Newspaper in Ak-Chin, Arizona, and as news editor and production specialist at NCTV17 in Naperville, Illinois.

Human Resources Kicks Off Quarterly Employee Recognition Program

The Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community’s Human Resources department kicked off its inaugural quarterly employee recognition program on July 14 at Scottsdale Community College’s Indigenous Cultural Center. The program honored hardworking employees from the third quarter of fiscal year 2025 who demonstrated the values of the O’odham and Piipaash Community...

August 25, 2025

Dancing With Deana Series Combines Culture With Exercise (Video)

Diabetes Prevention Services and Public Health/HHS, in a partnership with SRPMIC Council, held the ultimate summer dance fitness series Dancing with Deanna from June through July. Dancing with Deanna was the latest in the Leadership in Motion series, which was highlighted with the Moving with Martin fitness series last year....

August 8, 2025

Rianna Tate Wins Third Straight IBJJF National Title

Rianna Tate continued her success on the mat by winning the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) No-Gi title for the third consecutive year on June 27 at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. Tate had two fights and came out on top with two submissions. She faced...

August 7, 2025

Johanna Tate Graduates From Youth Indian Police Academy

Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community member Johanna Tate was one of only 28 Native youths from across the United States, out of 100-plus applicants, selected for the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Office of Justice Services (OJS) Youth Indian Police Academy (YIPA) program this summer. Tate submitted a five-paragraph essay...

August 5, 2025

Cruz Lasiloo and Tizoc Lopez Travel to Japan

For 10 days in June, Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community members Cruz Lasiloo and Tizoc Lopez traveled across six different cities in Japan as a part of the curriculum for their Japanese class at Saguaro High School in Scottsdale. This was their first time traveling internationally for both Lasiloo and...

July 28, 2025

ALA Class of 2025 Have Much to Celebrate at Commencement

Salt River Accelerated Learning Academy (ALA) Principal Barbara Wilkinson beamed from ear to ear as she welcomed the class of 2025 graduates to their commencement ceremony on June 26 at the Talking Stick Resort and Casino ballroom. While she is undoubtedly proud of the graduating class for their achievements, there...

July 25, 2025

Caleb Dash Joins the Marine Corps

Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community member Caleb Dash is joining the U.S. Marine Corps. Dash reported to Camp Pendleton in San Diego, California, on July 7 for 13 weeks of basic training. He’ll come home for 10 days before being sent to Marine Combat Training (MCT) school and Military Occupational...

July 25, 2025

WIC Celebrates Fathers with Pop’s Pop-Up

For the second consecutive year, the Salt River WIC program hosted a special celebration for dads called Pop’s Pop-Up on June 12 in the lobby of the River People Health Center. WIC originally planned for 50 guests, but welcomed 73 attendees. The two-hour, family-centered outreach event highlighted how the WIC...

July 14, 2025

Congressman Tim Walberg Visits Early Childhood Education Center

U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg, a Republican from Michigan and chairman of the House of Education and Workforce Committee, visited the Early Childhood Education Center (ECEC) in the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community on May 27. When SRPMIC President Martin Harvier testified in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on April 4 at a...

2 of 65

Jacob Butler Becomes Chair of Native Seeds/SEARCH

After serving on the board of Native Seeds/SEARCH since 2017, Community Garden Coordinator Jacob Butler will now serve as chair of the board for the nonprofit seed-conservation organization based in Tucson. Butler has a big presence in the Community, having served as Community garden coordinator for the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community for 16 years. […]

Taté Walker Talks ‘The Trickster Riots’ and Collaborating With Family

Salt River Schools Communications and Public Affairs Director Taté Walker (Lakota citizen of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe of South Dakota) has released a new poetry collection called “The Trickster Riots” with illustrations by their 14-year-old child, painter and graphic artist Ohíya Walker (Lakota citizen of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe/Red Lake Ojibwe/Mvskoke Creek). For […]

Winners Crowned at 2023-24 Jr. Miss Salt River and Miss Salt River Pageant

On June 17, the 31st Annual Jr. Miss Salt River Pageant and 35th Annual Miss Salt River Pageant, presented by the Miss Salt River Committee, took place at the Salt River Pi-Copa Gym in front of an audience filled with Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community members, families and royalty from around Indian Country. The annual […]

River People Health Center Opens to Community Members

The River People Health Center (RPHC) is now fully open to Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community members, all other tribal enrollees and their family members under the age of 18. All services are now open, including primary care (family practice, pediatrics and internal medicine) as well as dental, optometry, podiatry and physical therapy. “The only […]

Latest Issue