Kari McCormick of Arrowhead Builders, chair of the CIIC 2017 National Conference, speaks at last year's closing session.

TEMPE, AZ. (October 4, 2018) ‒ Workshops, a trade show, and a keynote speech moderated by the editor of a prominent Native American newspaper highlight the Construction in Indian Country (CIIC) 2018 National Conference Nov. 7-9 at the Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino in Chandler, Arizona.

Celebrating 15 years of emphasizing methods of achieving sovereignty through planning, design, and construction, this year’s conference theme is “Building Visions for Tomorrow’s Tribal Communities: Innovating Tribal Planning, Development, and Construction.”

It reflects on yesterday’s best practices with emphasis on envisioning tomorrow’s built environment through an innovative lens to build sustainable tribal communities.

Peterson Zah, first Navajo President and last Chairman of the Navajo Nation, was one of the founders of the CIIC Conference. It was a time, he said, when Indian gaming was driving construction on the Native American communities.

“It (the conference) has evolved over the years, but overall, economic development has played a huge role. Members of the CIIC board have brought in new ideas over the years. We looked at different ways of doing things.

“It was also important to promote the use of available labor and available and local resources into the construction process. The conference also started as a way to resolve conflicts between the tribes and non-tribal entities. A way to get to the cause of what is going on between the two parties. We said a university like Arizona State University can become a peacemaker between the two entities. That was the birth of CIIC,” Zah said.

With Zah as Special Advisor to the President on American Indian Affairs, a committee comprised of individuals from Arizona and New Mexico Indian tribes teamed with the Del E. Webb School of Construction.

One of the keynote presentations at this year’s event is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 8. The topic will be “State of the Nation’s Talking Circle.” Moderating will be Mark Trahant, Editor, Indian Country Today. Panelists will be Jonodev O. Chaudhuri, Chair, National Indian Gaming Commission; and Rodger Boyd, Principle, Rodger J. Boyd & Associates.

Workshops include:

  • Construction 101 and 102: CON 101 – How do you get there (a building) from here (an idea)? Construction starts with planning, design, and financing and continues until the structure is ready for occupancy. CON 102 – Although Construction 101 is not a pre-requisite this workshop will expand on the concepts reviewed during Construction 101 and apply them to a conceptual case study.
  • OHSA Construction 10-hour card safety course: An interactive hazard awareness and avoidance course. This day and a half course will emphasize on the identification, prevention, and abatement of hazards in the workplace.
  • Other workshops include Leadership and Governance; Economic Development; Planning, Development and Infrastructure; and Construction and Design Best Practices.

Register at https://ciic.construction.asu.edu. The Wild Horse Pass Hotel conference room rate starts at $159 with options to upgrade to a suite at $209. Hotel bookings can be made at https://ciic.construction.asu.edu/content/book-your-hotel-room. Promotional room rates for CIIC National Conference at the Wild Horse Pass Hotel end Monday, Oct. 8.