American Indian Council of Architects and Engineers facts for kids
The American Indian Council of Architects and Engineers (AICAE) is a special group that helps Native American people become successful architects and engineers. It's a non-profit organization, which means it uses its money to help people, not to make a profit. The AICAE encourages Native Americans to get training, earn their professional licenses, and keep learning new things in these fields.
As of 2020, the council had more than 200 members. These members came from over 20 different states across the United States. The AICAE shares information through a newsletter and a directory. They also hold conferences twice a year to bring members together.
How the AICAE Started
The AICAE began on June 23, 1975. A small group of Native American professionals started it in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Some of the people who helped create the AICAE were:
- Louis L. Weller, an architect who is Caddo and Cherokee. He was from Shiprock, New Mexico.
- Neal A. McCaleb, an engineer from the Chickasaw Nation in Oklahoma.
- Denby Deegan, from the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nations.
- Leon W. Shirley, from the Navajo Nation.
Other important founders included Charles Archumbault, Ernest Echohawk, Denis Numkena, Leroy Brown, and Wakon Redbird.
What AICAE Members Do
Members of the AICAE offer many different services. They work in architecture and engineering. They help various clients, including Native American tribes and Alaska Native communities. They also work with federal, state, and local governments. This means they design buildings, bridges, and other important projects.
Annual Conferences
The AICAE holds a conference every year. These events allow members to meet, share ideas, and learn from each other. The most recent conference was held in September 2019 in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
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