About the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community

The Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community (SRPMIC) is a sovereign tribe located in the metropolitan Phoenix area. Established by Executive Order on June 14, 1879, the Community operates as a full-service government and oversees departments, programs, projects and facilities.

The Community is located in Maricopa County and is bounded by the cities of Scottsdale, Tempe, Mesa and Fountain Hills. The Community encompasses 52,600 acres, with 19,000 held as a natural preserve.

With two distinct backgrounds and cultures, the Community is comprised of two Native American tribes: the Pima, “Akimel O’Odham” (River People) and the Maricopa, “Xalychidom Piipaash” (People who live toward the water). Today, over 9,000 individuals are enrolled tribal members. Comprised of the President, Vice President and seven elected Council members, the Community Council governs the Community.

Approximately 12,000 acres are under cultivation in a variety of crops including cotton, melons, potatoes, onions, broccoli and carrots. Commercial development is reserved along the Community’s western boundary.

The Community proudly owns and operates several successful enterprises including Talking Stick Golf Club, Talking Stick Resort, Salt River Fields, Salt River Devco, Casino Arizona, Salt River Sand and Rock, Phoenix Cement, Saddleback Communications, Salt River Financial Services, and Salt River Landfill.

The majestic Red Mountain can be seen throughout the Community and is located on the eastern boundary. The sight of the mountain symbolizes the home of the Pima and Maricopa people.

Quick Facts

Location
Adjacent to the cities of Scottsdale, Mesa, Tempe and the town of Fountain Hills, in the Phoenix metropolitan area.

Size
52,600 acres
19,000 in natural preserve

Population
Over 10,800* enrolled members

Taxes
1.75%* sales tax

*as of Sept. 2021

Utilities
Electric: Salt River Project
Telephone: Saddleback Communication
Gas: Southwest Gas Corporation
Water: Central Arizona Project, Salt River Project

Geographic Features
Red Mountain
Saddleback Mountain
Salt and Verde Rivers
Natural Preserve
Wetlands

Local Educational Institutions
Scottsdale Community College – 101 and Chaparral, SRPMIC
Arizona State University – Main Campus – Tempe, 7 miles SW of SRPMIC

Transportation

Valley Metro Bus – provides public transportation to Scottsdale Community College
Valley Metro Light Rail – provides public transportation from Phoenix to Tempe and Mesa
Taxi – service provided throughout the Phoenix metro area
Trolley – operates during the months of March and April for spring training season at Salt River Fields
Salt River Department of Transportation – Salt River Transit provides public transportation within the SRPMIC Community and the surrounding cities of Scottsdale, Mesa and Tempe.

Airports
15 minutes from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport
15 minutes from Scottsdale Municipal Airport
20 minutes from Falcon Field in Mesa.

Highways
101 – Pima Freeway – runs north and south nine miles along the Community’s western boundary, adjacent to Scottsdale

202 – Red Mountain – runs along the southern boundary to connect with Tempe, Mesa, Chandler and Gilbert

Shea Boulevard – runs along the northern boundary to connect Fountain Hills and the Tonto National Forest

Arizona 87 – Beeline Highway – runs diagonally through the Community from McDowell Road to Shea Boulevard

The SRPMIC Great Seal

The Great Seal of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community is an ancient pattern of the Southern Arizona tribes. The pattern represents the MAZE, or house of “Se-eh-ha” (Elder Brother).

The legend of the “Man in the Maze” helps children understand the meaning of life. The maze depicts experiences and choices we make in our journey through life. It illustrates the search for balance – physical, social, mental and spiritual. In the middle of the maze are found a person’s dreams and goals. Legend says when we reach the center, the Sun God is there to greet us, bless us and pass us into the next world.

“The Man in the Maze” as told by Dorothy Lewis

“Elder Brother lived in the maze … and the reason why he lived in the maze was because … I think how I’m gonna say this … magician or oh, medicine man that can disappear, and that can do things, heal people and things like that … that was Elder Brother … Seh huh … they called him … he lived in there … but he had a lot of enemies so he made that, and to live in there people would go in there but they couldn’t find him … they would turn around and go back.

“But in real life … when you look at the maze you start from the top and go into the maze … your life, you go down and then you reach a place where you have to turn around … maybe in your own life you fall, something happens in your home, you are sad, you pick yourself up and you go on through the maze … you go on and on and on … so many places in there you might … maybe your child died … or maybe somebody died, or you stop, you fall and you feel bad … you get up, turn around and go again … when you reach that middle of the maze … that’s when you see the Sun God and the Sun God blesses you and say you have made it … that’s where you die.

“The maze is a symbol of life … happiness, sadness … and you reach your goal … there’s a dream there, and you reach that dream when you get to the middle of the maze … that’s how I was told, my grandparents told me that’s how the maze is.”