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.

Christmas Program and Light Parade Spread Cheer Throughout Community

The Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community celebrated the holiday season with its Community Christmas Program and Holiday Light Parade tradition on December 9. Community members enjoyed participating in and listening to Elite Karaoke with DJ Brandy on the main stage to kick off the event. The karaoke contest winner was Lori Lewis and Santa’s Little […]

December 27, 2023

SRPMIC Artist Dwayne Manuel Celebrates O’odham Resilience with New Design

Inspired and motivated by the history of the O’odham, Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community member artist Dwayne Manuel’s latest T-shirt design celebrates the O’odham’s resilience and continued success in navigating the modern world. The design is titled “Walk With Heart.” Manuel said the name is derived from the O’odham word Himdag, which is commonly used […]

December 27, 2023

The Power of the Native Vote in Arizona

In the 2020 general election, Joe Biden defeated Donald Trump by about 10,500 popular votes in the state of Arizona. The Native vote arguably made the difference in that election. With 22 federally recognized tribes in the state, an estimated 5.2% of Arizona’s population identifies as American Indian or Alaska Native—leaving open the possibility for […]

December 22, 2023

Salt River Hiking Club Explores Joshua Tree National Park

By OAN Intern Nalani Lopez With two vans packed full of camping tents, warm clothes and 10 excited participants, the SRPMIC Outdoor Recreation Adult Hiking Club headed west to Southern California to hike in the Joshua Tree National Park on the weekend of December 2. The weekend in the Mojave Desert started on Saturday afternoon […]

December 22, 2023

Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs Speaks at Salt River Shares 2024

By OAN Intern Nalani Lopez Up on the Pepsi Deck at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs congratulated the successful partnership of tribal gaming between the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community and the State of Arizona at the annual Salt River Shares 2024 event on November 30. The event recognizes the […]

December 22, 2023

Strength/Endurance Challenge and Bench Press Competition Return Tops Off 2023

Story and photos by OAN Newspaper Assistant Kari Haahr There was a sharp inhale, then a beat as Joseph Garza completed his bench press with a loud clang as the bar dropped back into place. The surrounding group hollered whoop! and there you go! punctuated with a final sheesh! from Garza as he sat up […]

December 20, 2023

Kimberly Enos Recognized as Employee of the Year at Annual Employee Holiday Luncheon

The Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community celebrated its employees with the annual Employee Holiday Luncheon at the Ballroom at Talking Stick Resort on December 12. As employees filed into the ballroom, they were treated to a holiday music prelude by jazz trio Lucky Devils Band, who provided the musical entertainment for the day. SRPMIC Public […]

December 7, 2023

Community Comes Together for Annual Thanksgiving Dinner

After a wet and rainy morning, the clouds parted over the Two Waters Courtyard just in time for the annual Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community Thanksgiving Dinner to begin, which brought family and friends together for a special day on November 18. Jr. Miss Salt River 2023-2024 Jizelle Juan emceed the event and provided a […]

December 5, 2023

FEMA Continuity Planning for Tribal Governments Course Held at SCC

As students and faculty attended their classes at Scottsdale Community College (SCC) on the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community on November 1 and 2, little did they know that at the college’s Indigenous Cultural Center, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Office of National Continuity Programs (ONCP) was holding a training course for representatives from […]

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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 […]

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