ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The leader of the Navajo Nation says he never had any doubt that sending several dozen employees to an education conference in Hawai'i was the right thing for his tribe to do, and now a federal review has backed him up. The U.S. Department of Interior's inspector general has determined that the Navajo Nation was not out of line when it sent employees to the National Indian Education Association conference in Honolulu last October, and that the tribe did not misuse federal funds.

The inspector general's findings were made public Wednesday by Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., who had requested an inquiry after accusations of misuse of funds were leveled against tribal officials.

Navajo President Joe Shirley Jr. said Wednesday it was important for tribal educators to participate in the conference.

Tribal officials came under fire after it was reported that 362 tribal members preregistered for the event. But Navajo officials countered that not all of the members who attended went on behalf of the Navajo government. The tribe confirmed it sent 61 employees and had used federal money to pay for only 15 Navajo Head Start employees to attend.