As the first-known pipe band established on a Native American community, the Salt River Fire Department (SRFD) Pipes and Drums band uniquely honors and blends the traditions of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community with Irish and Scottish cultures.

From the design of the band’s trailer and drums to the way that the cultures similarly honor their fallen, only with different instruments (an O’odham gourd, and bagpipes for the Irish and Scottish), the band is leaving its mark on the evolving traditions of pipes and drums.

The Salt River Pipes and Drums band is part of the Arizona Fire Service Pipe Band, a statewide group of more than 150 band members who respond to the call to perform anytime there is a significant fire department–related memorial, funeral, retirement or graduation event.

The Arizona Fire Service Pipe Band sends out a notification via an app to all members, and this year the Salt River Pipes and Drums answered the call to perform at the Franklin Police and Fire High School welcome dinner and orientation event held at The Hall of Flame Museum of Firefighting in Phoenix on August 23.

Salt River Pipe Major and SRFD engineer Xavier Martinez led the state band that night, rounded out by SRFD engineer Colin Schaffery on bagpipes, SRFD firefighter/EMT Levi Jones on bass drum, and firefighter/paramedic Eric Parr and SRFD engineer Chris Kenitzer on snare drums.

“We were about half of the entire state band for this event!” said Kenitzer, who noted that the museum was a great setting for fire school graduates.

“It is also reassuring to see entire high schools being dedicated to developing the next generation of much-needed firefighters. Hopefully the performance sounded good to the audience, and specifically the graduates.”

Eight years ago, Kenitzer was presented with the opportunity to be part of history when Martinez approached him to help stand up the first pipes and drums band in Native American fire service history. 

Along with Technical Rescue Team captain/snare drummer Riley Murph, the trio of Martinez, Murph and Kenitzer began practicing diligently back in 2017.

“Our six-piece band works very hard year-round, visiting schools, attending workshops, traveling, practicing and performing,” said Kenitzer. “We are extremely fortunate to be able to honor our fallen, our graduates and retirees here in the Community and across the country because of the support we have received from our SRFD Command staff.”

Kenitzer plays an Andante brand Scottish Highland snare drum with Gordon Brown G2 drumsticks. On the top of the snare drum is a tightly bound, woven carbon fiber head. The bottom of the snare has the standard “kit” snare head on it.

“This gives the ‘rifle shot’ sound, which this particular drum was meant to imitate in warfare,” said Kenitzer. “Enemies of tribes and armed forces around the globe have felt surrounded by the crack and echo of the Scottish Highland snare, without wasting a single bullet.”

Thanks to Martinez, the bass drum head has the SRPMIC’s water design encircling it. “Our bass drum represents the essence of this historic band with the unprecedented integration of both Native and fire service cultures,” he said.

The Salt River Pipes and Drums band also performed at the annual 9/11 Stair Climb event at Salt River Fields, which was held on September 14. The band has played at Pearl Harbor Day, Veterans Day and Memorial Day events as well.

Later this fall, the band will be performing at its annual awards banquet, and Kenitzer said they will be ready.

“The band is constantly attending trainings and workshops and learning new tunes on top of improving on old ones,” said Kenitzer.