Executive Leadership

Stephen Roe Lewis, Governor
Monica Antone, Lt. Governor
Legislative Council

(updated November 2022)

Contact Information

Address: PO Box 97 Sacaton, AZ 85147

Phone: 520-562-6000

Director Tribal Health Department:

Christina Floyd christina.floyd@gric.nsn.us

Education Director:

Isaac Salcido isaac.salcido@gric.nsn.us

Tribal Historic Preservation Officer:

Barnaby Lewis barnaby.lewis@gric.nsn.us

Website

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

The Gila River Indian Community's Constitution & Bylaws (Adopted 1960)

The Gila River Indian Community's Constitution & Bylaws (Adopted 1960)
view | download 73.42 KB

RESEARCH PROTOCOLS:

Gila River Indian Community Medical and Health Care Research Code, Enacted April 15, 2009

Gila River Indian Community Medical and Health Care Research Code, Enacted April 15, 2009
view | download 35.63 KB

Document Checklist for the Researcher

Document Checklist for the Researcher
view | download 88.92 KB

Initial Contact Instructions

Initial Contact Instructions
view | download 506.88 KB

Protocols Involving Biological Sampling and Proprietary Agreements

Protocols Involving Biological Sampling and Proprietary Agreements
view | download 370.56 KB

Research Application

Research Application
view | download 45.85 KB

Guidelines for Informed Consent

Guidelines for Informed Consent
view | download 366.87 KB

Certification of the Principal Investigator Form

Certification of the Principal Investigator Form
view | download 352.25 KB

Confidentiality Agreement and Conflict of interest Statement

Confidentiality Agreement and Conflict of interest Statement
view | download 448.99 KB

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 11,150 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.

 

Gila River Indian Community Reservation

Arizona

United States

Total Population*  11,150 6,946,685 322,903,030
Number of Households 3,122 2,524,300 119,730,128
Average Household Size 3.45 2.69 2.63
Median Age 29.6 37.4 37.9
Population Under Age 18 30.5% 23.5% 22.8%
Population Over Age 65 8.7% 16.7% 15.2%
Speaks a Language Other Than English in Household 19.0% 27.2% 21.5%
Married-Couple Households 22.2% 57.0% 58.6%
Owner-Occupied Housing Units 38.4% 63.6% 63.8%
Age 25+ with High School Degree or Higher 66.4% 86.8% 87.7%
Median Household Income $13,865 $56,213 $60,293
Below Federal Poverty Threshold 49.0% 16.1% 14.1%
Households with at Least One Computing Device 46.8% 89.9% 88.8%
Households with a Desktop/Laptop 31.6% 79.7% 77.9%

*All statistics are from the 2014-2018 American Community Survey, 5-year estimates.