Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community members and guests took part in all-day festivities during the Community Day celebration on June 11 at the Two Waters Complex. 

Kicking off the program was a blessing by the newly crowned 2022-23 Miss Salt River Nani Reina. Reina and the rest of the Miss Salt River 2022–23 court introduced themselves to the Community, including First Attendant to Miss Salt River Kendra Percy, Jr. Miss Salt River Tirsa Reina, and First Attendant to Jr. Miss Salt River Aiyanah Lerma. 

2021-22 Miss Indian Arizona First Attendant Skehg’ Hiosik Galindo read the SRPMIC Proclamation. SRPMIC Day, also known as Community Day, recognizes when President Rutherford B. Hayes established the Salt River Indian Community as a tribal government through executive order in 1879. 

The Community’s original land base spanned from present-day Phoenix to the White Mountains. Due to an uproar by non-Native settlers in the area who believed the land base was too large, the initial executive order was amended six months later, and the Community’s land base was reduced to roughly 46,627 acres. Over time, the Community obtained additional lands through negotiations and purchases, and today it covers 52,600 acres. 

A meal was provided by the Round House Café. Families were treated to a dinner of red chili beef with cemait or skovi cemait, squash and cheese, traditional poshol and a Jell-O cake for dessert. 

Vendor booths were set up throughout Two Waters and entertainment included the chicken scratch band Two Rivers, a cumbia contest, and O’odham and Piipaash singing and dancing.

Cumbia Contest Winners

12 Years and Under

First Place: Ella Marnetta

Second Place: Santos Cervantes

Third Place: Taylor Belvado

13 to 17 Years

First Place: Ariza Cervantes

Second Place: Samantha Belvado

Third Place: Natalie Belvado 

18 to 54 Years

First Place: Manderee Jose

Second Place: Jay Johnson

Third Place: Monica Vavages

55 Years and Older

First Place: Ron Dash

Second Place: Jesse Rosales

Third Place: Gwen Osif

Proclamation Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community Celebration Day

    1879- TO PRESENT YEAR

WHEREAS, On January 10, 1879, President Rutherford B. Hayes by executive order established the Salt River Reservation to include the Salt River on the west, the San Carlos reservation on the east; and

    WHEREAS, On June 14, 1879, President Rutherford B. Hayes signed an Executive Order reconfiguring the Salt River Indian Reservation, reducing the land base by thousands of acres to a recorded size of 52,600 acres; and

    WHEREAS, the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community was established for the benefit of the Onk Akimel O’odham (Pima) and Xalychidom Piipaash (Maricopa); and

    WHEREAS, the peoples of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community have overcome many obstacles throughout history only to remain strong and unified; and

    WHEREAS, we continue to recognize and honor our ancestors; and

    WHEREAS, the culture and traditions remain vital to the people and will assure that the culture and traditions of our ancestors and our people are passed on to the children; and

    WHEREAS, today, the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community’s enrolled membership population is over 9,000,

    NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community Council does hereby proclaim the 14th day of June as:

Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community Celebration Day

    1879 – To Present Year

    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that throughout the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community that all Community Government Departments and Programs, organizations, schools, places of worship and members of our Community commemorate, in an appropriate manner, the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community Celebration Day. To include, for example, community service, volunteering, cultural exhibits, performances and other education and public awareness activities in order to help recognize this historic day.

    Pursuant to the authority contained in Article VII, Section 1(c)(10) of the Constitution of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community (as amended), ratified by the Tribe on February 28, 1990, and approved by the Secretary of the Interior on March 19, 1990, the foregoing proclamation was adopted this 9th day of June, 2010, in a duly called meeting of the Community Council at Salt River, Arizona, at which a quorum of 9 members was present, by a vote of 9 for, 0 opposed, 0 abstaining and 0 excused.