Top Stories
The Ins and Outs of Self-Empowerment
“We are in control of our own attitude,” began Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community Health and Human Services Prevention and Intervention Health Educator Melanie Nosie, LMSW. On March 25, Nosie facilitated a webinar regarding a topic we all can work on, self-empowerment. Recently, the Community Health webinars have seen an…
The Ins and Outs of Self-Empowerment
“We are in control of our own attitude,” began Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community Health and Human Services Prevention and Intervention Health Educator Melanie Nosie, LMSW. On March 25, Nosie facilitated a webinar regarding a topic we all can work on, self-empowerment. Recently, the Community Health webinars have seen an…
Kennise McGertt Continues Flag Tossing with ASU Marching Band
Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community member Kennise McGertt has had quite an adventure since graduating from Mountain View High School in May. McGertt traveled to more than 20 states while on tour with the Academy Drum and Bugle Corps over the summer. When she returned in mid-August, she began her first year of college, attending […]
SRPMIC Member Becomes IFBB Bikini Professional Bodybuilder
Leanne “Aimee” Velasquez, a 27-year-old Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community member, was working as a registered nurse when she decided to change up her routine of going to the gym in February 2020. Feeling intimidated and lost, she hired a fitness coach to help her get a new routine down. Her coach turned out to […]
Harvesting the Fruit of the Prickly Pear
The O’odham and Piipaash people traditionally collected many indigenous plants in the Sonoran Desert. Many people continue to go out today and collect them when they are in bloom. The fruit of the prickly pear cactus, I:ibhai in O’odham, is one of the best traditional foods to collect from the summer through the beginning of […]
Recent Stories
Na7ive Na7ions Baseball Hosts Showcase Clinic in Salt River
3 Takeaways: – Former Major League Baseball starting pitcher D.J. Carrasco is the founder and CEO of Native Nations, an organization that helps promote, train and educate Indigenous youth in baseball and softball. – In late March, Native Nations hosted a Community showcase clinic for baseball and softball athletes ages 12…
OAN Podcast #58 – 2026 Echoes of Akimel Mural Festival
In this quick episode, hosted by OAN News reporter Juan Ysaguirre, we take you inside the 2026 Echoes of Akimel Mural Festival. This was a week‑long celebration of art, mentorship, tradition, and youth creativity across the Salt River Pima‑Maricopa Indian Community. Seven murals, ten visiting Indigenous artists, and dozens of…
OAN Podcast – Diondria Pilger
In this episode, Zoe Hernandez sits down with Diondria Pilger to talk about Pilger’s role as Editor-in-Chief for the Westwood High School Yearbook. Pilger shares the wins and challenges of being a lead during her senior year. Join them for this in depth discussion. Do you have story or podcasting…
Getting to Know: Missing and Murdered Indigenous People Coordinator Paula Shaw
The ongoing trauma of missing and murdered Indigenous people (MMIP) continues to weigh heavily on the hearts and minds of many, especially in Indian Country. Locally, to help navigate the harsh traumas of MMIP, the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community has established its own MMIP coordinator, Paula Shaw, who works…
OAN Podcast – Diondria Pilger
In this episode, Zoe Hernandez sits down with Diondria Pilger to talk about Pilger’s role as Editor-in-Chief for the Westwood High School Yearbook. Pilger shares the wins and challenges of being a lead during her senior year. Join them for this in depth discussion. Do you have story or podcasting…
Governor Katie Hobbs Tours Recovery and Cultural Centers, Meets with Tribal Council
Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs spent an afternoon in the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community on April 14 to discuss important issues with leaders and tour of a handful of facilities. The tour began at Journey to Recovery (JTR), a residential treatment facility on the River People Health Center campus. Later,…
