Executive Leadership
| Stephen Roe Lewis, Governor |
| Regina Antone, Lt. Governor |
| Legislative Council |
(updated February 2024)
Contact Information
Address: PO Box 97 Sacaton, AZ 85147
Phone: 520-562-6000
Tribal Health Department Director:
Candalerian Preston Candalerian.Preston.THD@gric.nsn.us
Education Director:
Isaac Salcido isaac.salcido@gric.nsn.us
Cultural Resources Management Director:
Kyle Woodson kyle.woodson@gric.nsn.us
GOVERNANCE: The Executive Branch of the Gila River Indian Community government is led by a Governor and Lieutenant Governor, each elected for a three-year term. The Legislative Branch includes a 17-member Tribal Council representing seven districts. Elections are held yearly for the council members serving three-year staggered terms, and every third year for the Governor and Lieutenant Governor. The Council meets the first and third Wednesday of every month. The Gila River Indian Tribe resides in Congressional District 1; Legislative Districts 8 and 27.
CONSTITUTION:
RESEARCH PROTOCOLS:
Click here to read a presentation on research guidelines by Barnaby Lewis, Tribal Historic Preservation Officer.
COMMUNITY PROFILE: The Pee Posh (Maricopa) Indians were small bands that lived along the Colorado River. Eventually these bands migrated East and became known collectively as Maricopa. Upon migrating East, they became allies with the Akimel O'Odham (Pima) Indians, uniting against the Yuman and Apache Tribes. Some Maricopa settled in the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, while others settled along the Gila River. In 1859 Congress established the Gila River Indian Community, comprised of both Maricopa and Pima Tribes.
According to the 2018 Census, approximately 12, 083 individuals live on the Gila River Indian Community Reservation in Arizona, located 34 miles south of Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix. The reservation is roughly 640 square miles, or 372,000 acres. This includes 15,000 acres dedicated to agriculture: cotton, wheat, millet, alfalfa, barley, melons, pistachios, olives, citrus, and vegetables. Independent farming operations include an additional 22,000 acres of similar crops.
In 2004, the Gila River Indian Community opened the HuHugam Heritage Center. The Center is dedicated to preservation and display of Native artifacts, and includes an amphitheater for storytelling, gatherings, and ceremonies. The community also operates the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort & Spa, three championship golf courses, three casinos, and Firebird International Raceway.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau 2017-2021 American Community Survey, the population on the Gila River Indian Reservation is 12,083. The following document provides a Census snapshot of the Gila River Indian Community with comparisons to the state of Arizona and the United States as a whole.
Note: When interpreting data for small populations or rural areas, it is important to note the margin of error, which is provided where possible. The margin of error can be interpreted as providing a 90 percent probability that the true value lies within the estimate plus and minus the margin of error.
First Things First is Arizona's early childhood agency, providing health screenings and a variety of services across the state. Included here are their reports on the Gila River Indian Community Region.
The following reports summarize the businesses and market predictions available on the Gila River Indian Community Reservation.