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.

Council Directive Approves Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccinations for SRPMIC Employees

The Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community Council has approved a directive to make full COVID-19 vaccinations mandatory for government employees as a condition of continued employment. Government employees included in the directive are regular, temporary, part-time, day labor, interns, youth workers and volunteers. This plan does not include SRPMIC Enterprises, which can develop their own […]

August 20, 2021

NARD Brings Indigenous Performers Back to Chase Field

After a year’s hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Native American Recognition Day (NARD) was back at Chase Field in downtown Phoenix on July 18. Baseball fans were again able to see the best dancers and performers from Indigenous communities across the state before the game, with the Arizona Diamondbacks hosting the Chicago Cubs. Before […]

August 20, 2021

‘Diabetes Among Friends’ Offers Interactive Sessions

A new series of sessions for people with diabetes is beginning on August 31. Called Diabetes Among Friends, the five-week peer-based curriculum is open to Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community members age 18 and over, tribal employees, people with diabetes and caregivers of people with diabetes. The series will take place every Tuesday and Wednesday […]

August 20, 2021

Camps Provided Extracurricular Activities for Youth and Teens

Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community youth and teens created new memories this summer at the Community Recreational Services (CRS) Day Camp and Teen Camp. The Day Camp was for youth in first through fifth grades and was held June 7 to July 15, while the Teen Camp was for teens in grades 6 through 12 […]

August 20, 2021

SRPMIC Member Performs at Suns Finals Game

Jorge Gonzales is well known for his hoop dancing at many different events around the Valley. As a Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community member, Gonzales was able to show off his talents with dance group Indigenous Enterprise at Game 5 of the Phoenix Suns’ NBA Finals vs. the Milwaukee Bucks at Footprint Center on July […]

August 18, 2021

Monsoons Bring Relief … and Potential Damage

Every year, Arizona’s monsoon season officially kicks off on June 15 and lasts until September 30. This summer’s monsoon has brought plenty of rain and wind to the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, which is precipitation that the Valley sorely missed last year. A monsoon thunderstorm can also temporarily lower the temperatures on a very […]

August 16, 2021

School Is Back in Session at SRPMIC

School is back in session for students at the Early Childhood Education Center, Salt River Elementary School and the Accelerated Learning Academy on the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. The first day of school was Monday, August 2, and classes began in-person with staff, students (with the exception of ECEC students) and visitors being required […]

August 5, 2021

NABI Brings Indigenous Youth Basketball Back to Phoenix

Basketball swept the Valley in July, and the 18th Annual Native American Basketball Invitational (NABI) added extra excitement to the atmosphere with youth playing high-octane basketball at eight indoor high school courts throughout Phoenix. Boys and girls teams from more than 150 tribal nations gave their all in pool and bracket games, and the Salt […]

August 5, 2021

Health and Human Services News and Updates

By Tasha Silverhorn The Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community’s Health and Human Services Department has some news and updates to share with Community members. COVID-19 Variants If you have been following the news on COVID-19, you may have heard about the new variants of the virus. There are multiple variants, with four notable ones active […]

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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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