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.

Congratulations to OAN Reporters for Winning NAJA Awards

Article by Dodie Manuel Early last fall, the Native American Journalists Association released the names of the 2021 National Media Award winners. Native American and non-Native journalists from across the country submitted 730 entries in the categories of print, podcast, video and online journalism. COVID-19 changed many things last year, and the NAJA awards presentation […]

February 4, 2022

Medical Marijuana Proclamation Temporarily Halts Prosecution of Possession

On December 8, in an effort to re-evaluate the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community’s legal position regarding medical marijuana, and also possibly recreational marijuana, the Community Council, in a vote of 8-2, passed a medical marijuana proclamation that temporarily suspends any prosecution involving possession of marijuana for medical use by adults. The proclamation provides policy […]

February 4, 2022

Salt River Materials Group to Open New Beeline Plant

If you have driven down Beeline Highway recently, you might have seen a new sand and gravel aggregate plant site that is waiting to be operational. Salt River Materials Group (SRMG), a Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community–owned enterprise, plans to have the site fully operational, once fully permitted. In the meantime, SRMG is working on […]

February 4, 2022

Breaking Down the Probate Process

In the January 20 issue of O’odham Action News, we provided an introduction to estate planning, wills and probate, topics that are especially important for Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community members who are either dealing with the loss of a loved one or planning ahead to determine the validity of or process of heirs, wills, […]

February 4, 2022

Drive-Up Supply Distribution Event at ECEC

On January 20, the Salt River Schools Early Childhood Education Center (ECEC) held a drive-up supply distribution event on-site. Approximately 81 families were served at the event, which provided learning materials, cleaning supplies, diapers and baby wipes to enrolled children and their families while the children learn remotely due to the high rate of COVID-19 […]

January 24, 2022

Ride Along with Public Works Sanitation–Solid Waste

As the old saying goes: It’s a dirty job, but somebody has to do it. And that’s what the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community’s Public Works Sanitation solid waste operators are here for. The department tackles three different types of trash pickup in the Community: bulk, commercial and residential. With bulk trash pickup, solid waste […]

January 24, 2022

What’s New From the SRPMIC Veterans Representative Office

The Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community Veterans Representative Office started the new year off with a brand-new January issue of its monthly SRPMIC Veterans Newsletter, which provides some essential information for Community veterans. In the January issue, SRPMIC Veterans Representative Amanda White talks about what’s in store for 2022 after two long years of the […]

January 24, 2022

An Inside Look at the Career of an SRPD Police Officer

The Salt River Police Department (SRPD) is currently hiring for several open positions within the department. Current positions available are crime scene specialist (two positions), police officer (approximately 40 positions), records clerk (approximately three positions), dispatcher 1 (approximately eight positions) and animal control technician (one position). Currently, 14 members of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian […]

January 24, 2022

Introduction to Estate Planning, Wills and Probate

In the next few issues, O’odham Action News will be presenting a series of articles about the different aspects of estate planning, wills and probate services provided to members of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. The SRPMIC Community Development Department (CDD) Membership and Real Property Management (MRPM) Probate Services and Legal Services Office (LSO) […]

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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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