After a vote by the Navajo Intergovernmental Relations Committee, the Navajo Nation is sending Council Delegate Ervin Keeswood to represent the Navajo Nation's legislative branch at the eighth Intersessional United Nations Human Rights Commission. For a second time, Keeswood will sit and meet with representatives from various third world countries. The Navajo are the only tribe out of roughly 500 in the United States to field a representative. About the conference, Keeswood stated, “This is one of the most important issues the Navajo people should be involved in - the right of self-determination.” From December 7-14, various human rights issues will be discussed, including a pending declaration for the rights of indigenous peoples. The Navajo representative believes the conference will help the Navajo Nation to think on a global scale in terms of self-determination as well as economic development.
