Friday, May 27, 2011

YAY my plastic card called a Drivers License came in the mail Wednesday! The Drama is over...kinda.


by Leland P. Morrill Adopted Native American Citizenship Affected by The REAL ID Act of 2005 on Friday, May 27, 2011 at 12:52am
Wednesday I received my plastic card from the California DMV. Yup it's official, I now have a California Drivers License.


YAY my PLASTIC CARD showing I have a State issued Drivers License!!
What happened was when I went on April 14, 2011 to go get my Drivers License, I forgot my glasses so I only applied for the California Identification Card. I intended to go back but funds have been a little low lately after this whole 22 year research project that has been so paramount in my life. 40 years ago this July I was adopted out of the Navajo Nation and then began a feeble attempt by my anglo adopted parents to get a birth certificate. They at least sent in an application. Whether or not they followed up after the application phase no longer matters because I finished what they neglected.
It's amazing that it took me twenty-one years, seven months and 7 days to research and finally complete what should have been done back in July 1971 as part of the adoption.
My adoption and the adoptions of my other Navajo and Ojibwe brothers and sisters occurred prior to the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978 (http://www.nicwa.org/Indian_Child_Welfare_Act/).
I find it disappointing Joe G. Bennalley, Judge, Trial Court of the Navajo Tribe who signed off on my adoption to an anglo Mormon couple who were moving the next day to Canada failed to state my birth date, a link to my biological parents by naming them and also failed to enroll me as a member into the Navajo Nation and even made it quite clear by stating by my name "Leland Pachecko Kirk, C# A Minor".
The "C#" is where my Navajo Census Number should have been.
I also find it disappointing to know the depth of knowledge my anglo adopted parents knew about my biological Navajo family and still failed to follow through on getting my birth certificate. All these made it incredibly difficult to connect the dots during my 22 years of research.

Most of how I connected the dots were through hospital records I had to travel to Gallup New Mexico and request in person at the Gallup Indian Medial Center Health Records Department. I had to read between the lines, create a timeline of events based on those records, learn how to ask questions about my whereabouts. Prior to the internet and the world wide web, I wrote several letters to the Catholic churches in Navajoland. I wrote to Our Lady of Blessed Sacrament Parish in Fort Defiance, All Saints Parish in Ganado and several Pastors and Reverends to find out more information all without replies but I kept on with it throughout the years.

With the internet becoming available and as more records becoming available and then social networks, especially FACEBOOK, then the research took on a new expedited life. I first found out about The Real ID Act and how it affected me not having a birth certificate when my wallet was lifted in December 2009 on a bus in Los Angeles. As I returned home I emptied my pockets in my shorts just to find out my wallet was gone. I had gone shopping at the 99 Cent Only Store on Wilshire and Fairfax and then rode the bus back with several bags of groceries. Both hands were full as I rode the bus and no, I did not see or feel who took my wallet, just that when I got home it was missing. I then went to the California DMV on Cole and Waring Ave in Hollywood to apply for a California Drivers License and found out that I had to have a birth certificate. The drivers license lost had been issued from Utah so in January 2010 I travelled back to Salt Lake to get a replacement. Little did I know that the Real ID Act would be enacted on January 1, 2010 requiring "legal presence" or an original State Issued birth certificate. That January 2010 visit to the Utah DMV I found out about the Real ID Act and thought that my mormon baptism record would suffice as I had used it previously at the same DMV years earlier.
Off to the "big and spacious building" called the LDS Church Office Building I went. Once there I was informed I had to get my baptisimal racord from my "home Ward. Well, I haven't attended the LDS Church since the 80's when I went to see if organized religion was for me or not. Found out back then, it's not for me. Not that I don't believe in a diety, higher power, energy because I do. The LDS Church just isn't for me. Sure it was part of my upbringing and every time I return to see my anglo adopted parents I attend their Ward only because that's their rule when visiting them. So you see, me going to my "home Ward" really wasn't going to happen and that baptism record would not have helped.

So, back to California I went and then realized by May 2010, I didn't have any legal documents, no State issued Identification or Drivers License and no Birth Certificate. My Navajo Nation Adoption papers were worthless because of the missing information (birthdate, census number, and birth parents names). This is when I really started to get worried because then I couldn't go to the Credit Union, out with friends, or fly, well I could on Delta because one of my friends is a flight attendant. I couldn't even use a credit card because, guess what? You have to prove your identity with a plastic card Identification or Drivers License issued by one of the 50 U.S. States. In May 2010 I went back to Utah with all the documentation and research I'd accrued since then and they allowed me to get a paper copy of a temporary Utah Drivers License. I soon found out this was not honored anywhere. Another worthless piece of paper issued by a government entity, that I paid for.

I started to really research on the internet, Facebook, Twitter, Ancestry.com, Google, ect. I had to start to understand how to use the internet for family research and what keywords to use, what to ask, how to phrase my questions to get the desired answer. I had to learn how to use property tax records that I'd used as a researcher to find family records for the KIRK and PACHECO names and potential family members. Then one day, just out of the blue, I realized I could use FACEBOOK the same way and there were hundreds of millions of people on FACEBOOK, could people on the Navajo Nation reservation be on FACEBOOK? I typed "Kirk Arizona" in the search area and pressed the search icon. Sure enough, guess what popped up? People named KIRK in ARIZONA. That was my first introduction to understanding how to manipulate FACEBOOK for my new cause. At this point I didn't quite reach out because I didn't know what to say but at least I knew it was there.

I still tried to go the goverment way via the State of Arizona and State of New Mexico through the suggestion of the supervisor at the Utah DMV. My adopted parents told me I had been born in Albuquerque. Found out later, there really is no documentation. New Mexico Vital Records took my money repeatedly and never wrote back, nothing. So I went with Arizona Vital Records. I paid several fees, emailed, telephoned, wrote letters, sent in all my documentation and finally had to pay more fees to finally get... (drum roll) an Arizona "Certificate of No Birth" in December 2010. Yup. After thousands of hours of research and almost 21 years of research another government issued paper worth nothing although it cost me dearly in legal fees, state fees and notary fees. It wasn't until I went back to Utah and had my famous Utah DMV experience:
"UTAH DMV Evil or Good? You tell me...I'm Illegal...or not. I'm NAVAJO!"
https://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=165603423489450
that I realized the Navajo Nation had it's own Vital Statistics Office, and that's when things finally started to fall in place. Well not quite. I had some problems with them so I decided, what the heck, I can call the Navajo Nation President Joe Shirley. Well, surprise, the Navajo Nation presidency changed in January and I ended up talking to my natural cousin. Yup. She was related to the KIRKs and was able to use her office, Constituent Services Unit, to help me. Along the way she directed me to other Navajo relatives. My Uncle, my mother's half brother, and his wife helped the most along with Cyndy guiding my path. My Uncle even wrote to the Navajo Nation Vital Statistics, called them, and visited them in person, He also went with his wife to look for my mother's grave.

All in all, I met great people along the way. A representative from the National Archives (NARA) in Perris California was also instrumental. I had pretty much figured out a timeline, created an onine pedigree chart on "Family Echo" to keep the names of relatives straight and had started my Facebook Page and Blog by then. So when I talked NARA, I could refer back to my notes (blog, page and pedigree) and ask yes and no questions to her. After she realized that I knew most of the information, on March 18, 2011 at 4:56 p.m. she sent me an email. It might have been a strategic move, after 5 p.m. they were closed so I was unable to send an email back or call. She emailed me all the information I needed to lobby to get my Navajo Nation Birth Certificate and Certificate of Navajo Indian Blood. Success happened on April 9, 2011, a Saturday. Alisia Milford from the Window Rock Navajo Nation Vital statistics called me as I was attending a conference where I was to talk to U.S. Census Director Robert M. Groves but he ended up a no show due to the Federal Government almost shutting down Friday April 8, 2011. I ended up talking to Chai Feldblum, Commissioner, U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission instead. I discussed my employment issues, showed her my worthless paper copy of a Utah Drivers License & she was shocked. I also submitted changes to The REAL ID ACT to her...documented in my note:
My Additions/Amendment suggestion/ reasoning to THE REAL ID ACT of 2005 submitted to Chai Feldblum, U.S.Commissioner of the EEOC
https://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=174986269217832

In April my Facebook Page was read over 11,000 times by readers (THANK YOU). Again I did get verbally notified I was a member of the Navajo Nation April 9th & on April 14th I received my NN Birth Affidavit and Certificate of Navajo Indian Blood. Then I applied for California ID & then in on May 17th I applied for a Drivers License. There was a bit of a problem with the paper copy of that worthless Utah Drivers License. I ended up having to call/email Nannette Rolfe (Director) and Jill Laws (Deputy Director) of the Utah DMV and Jill faxed the documentation needed to the California DMV for me to get my Drivers License. Wednesday May 25, 2011 I received my plastic card issued by the California DMV called a Drivers License.

It took a village, almost a city of people who helped me along the way, so many it would take a huge entry just to thank everyone. I've thanked most of them individually and if I missed you. Please know I am grateful and thankful for your help, suggestions and assistance along the way. One great lesson I learned is people will help if you ask. Knowing what to ask, how to form the question so someone else understands what you seek is also a learned tool. I am amazed at all the people to had the attitude of "What would you like me to do?" and "How can I help?" Thank you.

After all the drama...I think I deserve a lifetime acheivement award:

May 26, 2011
Me with an Emmy trophy at the Academy of TV Arts & Sciences.
NO It's not mine, just thought it would be a funny picture.
LOL, here's a picture of me with an EMMY at the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences yesterday. No it's not mine, just me in a picture with one.
Thought it would be humorous to include the picture.


Thank you for reading my blog/page.
Now this blog/page is to help others. It takes a village.
Please LIKE my page, share with those who need to know. If you have any questions or comments, please don't be shy, ask, or state them. Thanks again!

Friday, May 20, 2011

Wouldn't you know, just as I'm finalizing documentation it's THE END OF THE WORLD!!! EEEEK!!!!


by Leland P. Morrill
Adopted Native American Citizenship Affected by The REAL ID Act of 2005 on Friday, May 20, 2011 at 11:29pm
Just kidding! LMAO.

This week was rather tumultous. Even though I now have a plastic California Identification Card, I still did not have my Drivers License. Tuesday May 17, 2011 I went to the California DMV down by USC on Hope Street and waited in line. While in line, I read the entire Drivers License Manual. I had arrived around 12:30 p.m. thinking that would be enough time to get in to take the test, by 4:00 p.m. I was getting worried that the cut off time had passed. NOT SO! I made it by minutes, 4:25 p.m. I took my mugshot, forgot to pose like I'd been trained to for media events so my picture was less than what I wanted but still it's my mug.

Wouldn't you know, just as I was entering the testing area, my cellphone rings! My little brother Shaun. LOL. Well, he didn't know, but immediately I saw the NO CELLPHONES sign. After turning off my phone the DMV person yelled: "NO CELLPHONES!!! TURN OFF YOUR CELL PHONE!" I immediately stated I didn't even know it was on, which I really didn't. I then took the multiple "guess" test quickly and was done in 10 minutes. Hmmmm yup, so I rechecked my answers thinking it couldn't be that easy and I sure didn't want to fail so I rechecked one more time, I handed in my test and then had to prove I had a previous drivers license. I pulled out that worthless paper copy the Utah DMV Fairpark asked for & immediatlely the DMV Tester said "I can't accept that"

My old Utah paper Temporary Drivers License. It's worthless to the California DMV and as an ID "card" No one accepts it!

Well, I kind of knew it and started to plead my case. He listened, thought about it and said, well you passed but I can't accept that. Talk to a supervisor downstairs at window 21.
Window 21 wasn't labeled so I immediately asked as it was now about 5:00 p.m., closing time. I got a supervisor around 5:15 p.m. Same story, but she said Utah DMV could send a clearance letter. So I immediately called Nanette Rolfe's cellphone number. Nanette is the Utah Department of Public Safety Drivers License Division Director and left a message. I did the same on her work phone number and also called Jill Laws' work phone number and left a message. Jill is the Deputy Director of the Utah Drivers License Division.

I was really upset because here I'd paid the fee, passed the test and one more hurdle. Then my little brother texted me and I sent back a "bitchy" text: "What do you want?" Actually it was uncalled for but I hadn't blown off steam yet and he was an immediate recipient. Funny how sometimes you lash back at those who you love the most. Sorry Shaun, if you reading this. Anyway, he called me on it in his colorful language via text & made me laugh but I was still mad.

I finally talked to him, Still upset and he offered to help. That's what I found so amazing. Sometimes people ask to help you. I knew I needed to scan my CIB, Certificate of Indian Blood, and Brith Affidavit and sent those off in an email as a PDF to Nanette and Jill so off I went to FedEx/Kinkos. Guess who was working? Jesus...of course! He actually helped me quite a bit because the scanner jammed up, my USB flash drive wasn't recognized by their computer, so we sent it to my email. I also sent it to Shaun and my best friend Troy just in case. I've learned to sometimes overcompensate and send files to multiple people and myself for an electronic timestamp.

I actually didn't know Jills email address but knew Nanettes. So, I kind of guessed it. Good thing because Jill called me as I was working out a housing issue the next morning, Wednesday May 18, 2011. Jill said she faxed the California DMV the clearance letter and also sent me a PDF just in case. She knows my style. Very cool.

Utah DMV Clearance Letter...Thanks Jill for sending it so quickly!!

After a meeting with housing off to the DMV I went. Upon arrival, they had my paperwork ready. Whatever it was Jill sent, it got their attention. THANKS JILL! I now have an Interim Drivers License issued by California DMV, now awaiting the plastic card.

YAY. My California Interim Drivers License.

I've also now applied for two jobs with the Torres Martinez Desert Cahilla Indian Tribe. Both position required a California Drivers License, I'm hoping to get one of them. Cynthia at the Wilshire office here in Los Angeles gave me an application and an internal job posting list of positions she thought I'd be qualified for once the drivers license was issued. So cross your fingers and toes people! I need a job just like everyone else!

I do have to thank Shaun, my little brother for asking to help and being a sounding board about my frustrations. My friend Troy has also heard my frustrations and concerns. Troy has been through the entire twenty two years of my research. To him, for being a sounding board, suggesting things I'd never think of, and just plain being a good friend, which says alot about his good character, patience, and level of friendship. Thanks Troy!

Also, later, Shaun called me to tell me there is a girl here in North Hollywood, a daughter of a client, who is Cherokee and going through the same Real ID Act of 2005 documentation nightmare I am now exiting. Shaun asked me if I'd help her. OF COURSE!
So, if your reading this, call me! Oh, and your mother Robin has my phone number. Just sayin. I'm here, and have plenty of fresh knowledge and willing to help.

Thank you all for reading my entry/blog. This has been a great diary and I've had to refer to it during telephone calls to tell the Navajo Nation Vital Statistics office, The National Archives, Navajo Relatives, The Arizona Vital Statistics Office of my progress. Blogging and also creating an online pedigree chart accessable by any computer has literally saved many a conversation and aided in defending my cause and helping me move forward. So, if you are in this process, please write down everything because, you can always refer back to it!

Also, please LIKE my Facebook Page. READ my notes. Remember, this blog contains just my notes and has a PayPal feature where you can donate :)
This process is greater than just me and others will need help. Perhaps this can be a way to assist others and once I get myself back onto my financial feet will be able to set up a nonprofit to help others.

You may notice, I also will have EBAY items up for sale on my Facebook Page. Feel free to purchase those items as well.

Above all, This is now to help others. If you have any questions, comments, suggestions, ideas for me to write about pertaining to The Real ID Act of 2005, Certificate of Indian Blood, Native Affidavit of Birth...PLEASE, suggest! I welcome it!

Peace out!

Saturday, May 14, 2011

My Identity returns!


by Leland P. Morrill Adopted Native American Citizenship Affected by The REAL ID Act of 2005 on Saturday, May 14, 2011 at 3:31am
Great news!
My plastic California state issued Identification plastic card came in the mail.

Left: my paper State issued Identification. Glad I don't have to carry that anymore because no-one accepts that for ID & then I have to continually explain it is State issued Identification.
Right: my plastic State issued Identification card.

A sense of completion and accomplishment. The ability to be part of reality returned. Every time I look at that card I understand freedom in a different way.

Isn't it amazing how every teenager and adult throughout the United States takes a plastic identification card for granted? Most will never know the value placed on that one card until they cannot have one by virtue of not having a birth certificate, proof of birth caused by one act, and anti-terrorism act called The Real ID Act of 2005.

Here is some review:
H.R. 418: REAL ID Act of 2005
1. TITLE II—IMPROVED SECURITY FOR DRIVERS’ LICENSES AND PERSONAL
IDENTIFICATION CARDS
Minimum document requirements:
The person’s date of birth.
Documentation showing the person’s date of birth

2. TEMPORARY DRIVERS’ LICENSES AND17 IDEll,NTIFICATION CARDS that expire one year after issuance.
"(i) IN GENERAL.—If a person presents evidence under any of clauses (v) through (ix) of subparagraph (B), the State may only issue a temporary driver’s license or temporary identification card to the person.
(ii) EXPIRATION DATE.—A temporary driver’s license or temporary identification card issued pursuant to this subparagraph shall be valid only during the period of time of the applicant’s authorized stay in the United States or, if there is no definite end to the period of authorized stay, a period of one year."

The last part of that gets me, an EXPIRATION DATE. Read that paragraph again:

(ii) EXPIRATION DATE.—A temporary driver’s license or temporary identification card issued pursuant to this subparagraph shall be valid only during the period of time of the applicant’s authorized stay in the United States or, if there is no definite end to the period of authorized stay, a period of one year."

Can you imagine going into your local State Department of Motor Vehicles and leaving knowing you only have one year to prove you exist? Realizing the Nation who adopted you out, the Judge in who signed off your adoption, your adopted parents all failed in their own part to document you enough with a Census Number, Certificate of Indian Blood and/or Birth Certificate/Affidavit. In this day and age it determines what you can do and where you can go. It limits your freedom.

Think about all the places you show your State issued Identification Card, or just count in your mind the times you've used it in the past week. What about that purchase at the store where you used a credit card? At the store when you purchased a bottle of wine? While in line to go dancing at a club? At dinner in a restaurant while paying and the waiter asks for identification? That's freedom that's taken away once you lose the ability to have a State issued Identification Card or Drivers License that most people take for granted.

Now think of it on a bigger scale. What if you need your Identification card for employment? Yes you have to prove your identification to work legally in this country. We live in a modern day Depression. If you became unemployed, what type of job can you do without identification? What desperate measures would you do to survive because you didn't have ID?

Here in Los Angeles, you can go into certain neighborhoods and people sell ID's to you. Think how tempting it would be if after one year you were unable to prove your legal status, your birth and you were forced to purchase Identification?

I'm so glad that my California Identification Card arrived. I feel alive again. I wiped out all my savings, my 401K, everything because of the research, paying for legal expenses. I stopped living life and enjoying it as much because there were only limited places, things I could do, I lost many freedoms because of not having that card. I also lost the ability to go to school but not the ability to learn.

I learned to write, hone my research skills, how to utilize the internet, verbalize where I am at in my quest to obtain a goal, how to get other people to understand my plight, where my focus is, and to ask for help. I learned to ask. I learned people are willing to help if you prepare them and can verbalize what you need them to do. I realized I understood verbalizing when my biological cousin Matthew came to visit, he asked me: What can I do? I didn't have an answer then because I hadn't prepared for that question. No one had asked me that. That question totally threw me off guard. Learn to understand when someone asks that question, they may want to hear you verbalize a task for them to do. They may not know how to help because your process is foreign to them. Learning to tell some one to help you and what you need is something that I learned at that moment and to realize I need to be prepared for that question.

Now that I have my Identification card, I'm able to focus on me. I get to move forward rather than being stuck in the desperate process of keeping my identity, knowing my identity has an expiration date.

My new focus is now to regain my financial stability, employment, the focus on entrepreneurship etc. Right now during this modern day Depression, I need to focus on me on moving past when someone pickpocked my wallet and my identity was put into question.
Thank you for reading!

PLEASE READ my other notes, LIKE my page, donate
And sometimes I will have Ebay items on my Facebook page you can purchase to help me fund my writing.
Leland P. Morrill