Probe into Navajo trip to NIEA in Hawaii expands

Monday, January 14, 2008  

The Interior Department's probe into the Navajo Nation's trip to the National Indian Education Association Conference in Hawaii has expanded, The Farmington Daily Times reports.

Investigators as far away as California are looking into the potential misuse of federal funds. DOI's Inspector General in Sacramento is questioning Navajo officials, the NIEA and the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the paper said.

The tribe sent at least 27 employees to the conference at a cost of $70,820. The Navajo Nation Council sent at least 18 at a cost of $45,000. President Joe Shirley and his wife also went to the conference, which was held last October in Honolulu.

The Daily Times said it has submitted nearly 150 Freedom of Information Act requests to determine who went to the conference and at what cost. A number of request went unanswered, the paper said.

Get the Story:
Navajo-Hawaii probe expands (The Farmington Daily Times 1/13)
Navajo travel tally could top $1million (The Farmington Daily Times 1/13)

Relevant Links:
Navajo Nation - http://www.navajo.org
Navajo Nation Council - http://www.navajonationcouncil.org
National Indian Education Association - http://www.niea.org

Related Stories:
Navajo Nation leaders travel to Las Vegas and DC (12/10)
Editorial: Investigate Navajo trip to NIEA in Hawaii (11/30)
Navajo Nation defends NIEA trip to Hawaii (11/29)
DOI launches inquiry into Navajo trip to NIEA (11/27)
Navajo Head Start spent $35K on trip to Hawaii (11/23)
Lumbee officials defend trip to NIEA in Hawaii (11/20)
Sen. Domenici seeks probe of Navajo NIEA trip (11/19)
Navajos question trip to NIEA conference in Hawaii (11/12)
Editorial: Navajo Nation wasted money on NIEA (11/8)
Column: Navajo Nation children deserve better (11/7)
Navajo Nation sent more than 360 to NIEA in Hawaii (11/5)
Editorial: Outrage over trip to NIEA convention (11/1)
JOM funds paid for trips to NIEA conference in Hawaii (10/30)