Gratitude Friday...oh and Why is the Navajo Nation Vital Statistics Window Rock office closed March 28-30,2011?? hmmm.

by Leland P. Morrill Adopted Native American Citizenship Affected by The REAL ID Act of 2005 on Saturday, March 26, 2011 at 12:10am

Good evening WWWpeeps,

Leland here, realizing Gratitude Friday is late today....in some parts of the U.S. it's now Saturday so excuse my lateness. There is a particular lady in Perris California who has been a great source of information to me so to her this Friday I am grateful. She also cautioned me to be patient and let the process happen rather than rushing it.

I do tend to do that on occasion because after 22 years of continuous research and with the advances within the last two years and two months being so quick I'm letting my own rush become a visible cog an not letting the process run it's "normal" or destined course.

To her, THANK YOU! I called, emailed & probably bothered her way too much today so yes I understand her verbalizing what needed to be said. 

I remind you I am affected by The Real ID Act of 2005 because I now hold a second six month temporary "paper" State issued Drivers License as required by that Act expiring July 13, 2011. No other will be issued after that date and I will become an ILLEGAL ALIEN if the Navajo Nation doesn't provide my needed documentation which should have been done in 1971 when I was adopted out of their tribe in Chinle Arizona....United States of America.

 Today I was in a nutrition class in Koreatown (Los Angeles). While there my biological Uncle Bob called me & I stepped out for a minute & talked to him. He finally was able to talk to Leonard Benally, Manager of the Census at the Navajo Nation Vital Statistics to verify verbally of my existence & relation. A great step forward. Another gratitude moment there. Leonard told Uncle Bob to write down his recollection of my mother Linda Kirk & me and to submit that in writing. Another step forward...YAY!

YAY my confirmation email!

Returning home, I openned up my email and a "USPS Shipment Info for 7010 3090 0000 5814 6774" email was staring at me.  I posted this on the Facebook Page. My Certified Mail gold 8.5"x11" package arrived at the Window Rock Post Office at 10:19am (today) Friday March 25, 2011. YAY. I immediately called Leonard Benally and told him. Surprise surprise!! He sent someone immediately to the post office to pick up the package. At 2:46pm another email arrived confirming delivery of my package to someone who picked it up. I waited another half hour, called Leonard back & we went over the details.  

Now, I will say I am headstrong so this may not be the best approach for others to follow, or it might. Please use your judgement and "read" the person on the on the other end of your conversation well so they understand your immediate need at this phase because you will want things done "yesterday" or as in my case 40 years ago, when my adopted mother originally applied for a birth certificate with the Navajo Nation & me now knowing Alisia and Leonard both have reviewed that application and still nothing has been done.

I was a little taken back when Leonard Benally told me to have my adopted mother submit her recollection of my adoption and what she knew. I considered it a stall tactic & was slightly put off (mildly offended) by such a request. Well, if you've kept up with my story and read my previous notes you know my adopted mother did indeed supply that to me in hopes it would help me at some point in this process. Please see the Note or Blog entry: 

"Am I ILLEGAL?!? Navajo, pre-adoption life version from my MOM (adopted)."

So, I asked Leonard Benally, Manager of the Census for the Navajo Vital Statistics point blank for his direct email address...a long uncomfortable pause & then he spoke & gave it to me, I spelled it out, verifying it to the letter. I went back through my emails & forwarded the same email within 5-10 minutes of our conversation. 

Between...

1. My adopted mother's recollection, 
2. My biological Uncle Bob's verbal verification of my existence
3. His relationship to Linda Carolyn Kirk (my biological mother) 
4. His inpending written submitted recollection of my bio-mom & I;  
5. My research notes & also 7 pages of documentation attached to my Navajo Nation Application for Membership and Navajo Nation Application for Services,  

...I am hopeful an "Affidavit of Birth", New Enrollement into the Navajo Nation, and a Certificate of Navajo Blood will arrive at some point. Remember, I only have until July 13, 2011 until my temporary "paper" United State issued Drivers License expires and due to the limitations spelled out in The REAL ID ACT of 2005 authored by Jim (James) Sensenbrenner of Wisconsin, that will be the date I become an ILLEGAL ALIEN. Thanks JIM! You're a pal...well not really.

So, I cannot afford, for my own sake, to allow any other person who is informed of my situation; who can be a part of my process; to sit on their "laurels" and take their sweet time. It took 40 year after I was adopted in 1971, with an application for birth certificate submitted by my adopted mother, 22 years of my own research, this blog/facebook page, notifying others and publicising my own story to keep the process visble. NOPE, I will not allow people to sit and do nothing. Nor should you. 

Something that I found out from Leonard Benally, the Navajo Nation Window Rock Vital Statistics Office will be closed MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY (March 28-30, 2011)...ummmm why? No reason given. Also, I was cautioned I am still considered an outsider, even though:

1. The Navajo Nation through a Final Adoption Decree dated July 15,1971 in The Trial Court of the Navajo Tribe, Judicial District of CHINLE ARIZONA adopted me out, without a birth certificate, census number, certificate of indian blood, 
2. Knowingly having documentation I had been a patient at the  the Chinle Arizona Health Clinic, PHS Indian Hospital Keams Canyon Arizona, Gallup Indian Medical Center 
3. Also had been assigned a Social Services "person" Ms. McCray through the Bureau of Indian Affairs in CHINLE ARIZONA. 

Ok...so caution & I shall wait until Thursday to call back Leonard Benally. 

As for the reason the office is closed THREE DAYS????? I will find that out as well and will inquire. I SINCERELY HOPE IT IS NOT BECAUSE OF " The Third Annual Language Preservation Summit! The Summit will be held March 28-30, 2011 at the beautiful Radisson Fort McDowell Resort in Scotsdale, AZ!"  http://falmouthinstitute.com/language/2010/10/falmouths-language-preservation-summit-exciting-news/ . 

If it is then it is.  Oh well. The Window Rock Navajo Nation Vital Statistics office will still be closed those three days.

Ok so I ranted a bit.

Today being Grateful Friday: I am grateful to my Perris California friend, my biological Uncle Bob for calling Leonard Benally & I hope to be grateful next Friday for Leonard Benally's role for the next step of retaining my United States Citizenship and furthering the Navajo Nation documentation started by my adopted mother in 1971.

Please read my previous notes, comment, make suggestions, oh and LIKE my page. Thanks again wonderful readers. Yes this last entry was intense but, if it can help anyone else with the process & understand the stresses, time involvement, expenditures and help them prepare and carve out a path, this page/blog was not in vain.

Insanity...and the wait...tick tock tick tock...Time that lost it's bottle

by Leland P. Morrill Adopted Native American Citizenship Affected by The REAL ID Act of 2005 on Wednesday, March 23, 2011 at 1:06am

How many have heard the saying:

  “Give me your tired, your poor,

Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,

The wretched refuse of your teeming shore,

Send these, the homeless, temptest-lost to me.”

 

Seems illusive at times. Especially knowing I fall under a new law enacted January 01, 2010 called The Real ID Act of 2005, written by James Sensenbrenner which requires a State issued Birth Certificate or reason for legal presence in the United States. At this point I have neither...even though I was adopted out of the Navajo Nation through the Chinle Arizona Tribal Court. Well, I certainly am not one to just lay there and be silent. Hence this Facebook Page and my blog on Blogger.com... if you scroll down the facebook page you'll see links to it at the beginning entries. My friend Sarah suggested I create a page & my friend Rick helped create the notes after I asked him if he knew how. Yup he does. 

You know, sometimes by preparation, hard work, some great friends, natural relatives most take for granted, a hella-lotta endurance, sheer willpower, the will to never give up, knowing if I do,  my United States Citizenship is at stake. Many have asked along the way, where will I get deported?!?  A Navajo adopted from the Chinle Arizona Tribal Court system. 

The Tucson Sun newspaper did a story on it entitled: Where do You Deport The Navajo?!?

http://tucsoncitizen.com/three-sonorans/2011/02/09/where-do-you-deport-the-navajo-to/

Beats me where would I be deported to. I can only think of one place that makes sense. Mexico. Reason for that is because I currently live in California, a border state & guess what country borders Arizona?? My adopted mother had a saying that's itching in my ear right now:

"I'll give you ten guesses....and the first nine don't count"

Still makes my laugh to hear that rolling around in my brain twenty seven years after I litterally flew the coop on Continental Airlines.

Another quote comes to mind...Ted Kennedy said it in the 80's and then referred to it again in 2008:

"the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die"

The dream shall never die, that's the part of the quote that always has come back to me...it never dies. 

I've worked hard on getting as far as I have and now I am at a new phase in my research...the DREAM PHASE.

It never died.

In this dream many angels showed up...just like in life. I looked back & saw many times only one set of footprints, and they weren't mine. I was carried somehow. I must admit, this blog/page has been my greatest reward. It's helped me stay sane when things have been insane. 

Example of insanity: I'm Navajo, as "American" as you can get, born within the borders of the United States, adopted out of the Navajo Nation, a court in Chinle Arizona, undocumented and 40 years later having problems retaining my United States citizenship, fighting to get a "temporary" paper State issued Identification. Twenty two years of my own personal research at a huge time and monetary expense. How did I do this? Wasn't just me...angels helped.

I just filled out a Navajo Nation Application for Membership & also a Navajo Nation Application for Services. Services. Do you know what they were?? Basic things most Americans take for granted. I even went to see an attorney today, turns out she's from some nation in Africa and she has an ID card. She has more rights than I have to live in this country.  The rights I checked off on the "Application for Services : 

• New Enrollment
• Certificate of Navajo Indian Blood
• Affidavit of Birth  

I am applying to a Nation for enrollment that adopted me out. It's documented as my Final Judgement of Adoption in the Trial Court of The Navajo Tribe, Judicial District of Chinle Arizona. Yes the Arizona part gets me as I read the insane article listed above:  "Where do You Deport The Navajo?" Also, the fact that in 1971 my adopted mother applied for a birth certificate through the Navajo Nation & today it sits in a folder that Alisia Milford & Leonard Benally of the Navajo Nation Vital Statistics in Window Rock Arizona both acknowledge is there. Nothing was done with that application for birth certificate. Nothing.  Insanity strikes again

It's interesting I live in Los Angeles because  at 8:58 a.m. Tue, Mar 22, 2011,  I get an email from one of my sources I've "traded" information with:

"Linda's student case file does mention that she is living in Los Angeles in 1961.  You may be able to find a death certificate for her in the Los Angeles County.  Their contact information is at http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/dca/dcadeath.htm."

 Yea...I live in Los Angeles, it's now 2011, exactly 50 years after my natural mother, Linda Carolyn Kirk had lived here. You want to know where the LA Coroners office is? Mission Blvd. I can walk there from where I live. Yup...and it isn't too long of a walk either. Wonder where she lived? It would be interesting to know.  You know what I've always told people about why I moved here?

"Los Angeles was calling my name. I moved here because this is where I belonged."

Another wierd coincidence, I moved onto a street where I got lost in the early 1990's. I remember one time I went to visit my neighbor Francis at the end of the street after moving here. As I waited at the corner, I recognized the house I was standing by was the same house where I had gotten lost and slept in my car in the early 90's after getting off the I-5 Los Feliz Blvd exit. I had moved to the same street, one block down from where I'd gotten lost and woke up one morning & then had found my way back to The Best Western where I was staying. Yup Los Angeles called my name...my Bali Ha'i.

So now that I've turned in my paperwork...it's the wait. What's next. Oh, yes then there was the idea of DNA testing. I called DDC DNA Diagnostic Center at 1-513-881-7800 (800-613-5768) and talked to CASE SPECIALIST/Service Consultant "Les" & he had to check. The Navajo Nation IS NOT on their list to accept DNA Testing for membership into their tribe. It was a great idea voiced by one of the people on this page and my Aunt Ruth both on the same day.

I think for now I'll wait, concentrate on my professional life. selling window coverings. My New Blinds...it need my attention http://www.mynewblinds.com/  My litle brother answers the phone there. All in the family.  funny that this whole blog/page is about family...not the Morrills so much as to reclaiming my Kirk and Pacheco heritage. Right now more the Kirks.

Thanks for reading...yes I've been rambling, maybe you got more out of it than I. Sometimes it's therapeutic to just write rambling nonsensical phrases & hope somewhere down the road it makes sense.   Feel free to comment. AND LIKE MY PAGE!  Thanks. 

If you have quetions, PLEASE ask. After 22 years of my own research, I prolly can fish up a few answers.

Starting your search for CIB, Birth Certificate for self or child. (some of my first steps)

by Leland P. Morrill:  Adopted Native American Citizenship Affected by The REAL ID Act of 2005 on Sunday, March 20, 2011 at 8:54am

This is in derived from the Lisa Grant Paris's concern about her children. (FACEBOOK PAGE COMMENT)

My first inclination is, a parent of adopted "unrecognized" , interpreting this as undocumented, native american children should start by obtaining documentations such as a Certificate of Indian Blood, Delayed Birth Certificate, and inquiring through the childrens' "native" Nation Trial Court Judicial District where they were adopted out of. Another place to start would be that Nations Vital Statistics Office. I am going to use the Navajo Nation as example for this entry as I am Navajo, and my research has been to gain/retain legal U.S. Citizenship and also to become a member of the Navajo Nation as a result of the passage of the Real ID Act of 2005. It is important for parents of adopted Native American children have the CIB (Certificate of Indian Blood) or Census Number or a U.S. State issued Birth Certificate for your child as these are required documents for them throughout their lives and may affect their legal and financial status/abilities as adults.

The first document to check would be the child's "Final Judgement of Adoption". On mine there is a space next to my name for a "C#" (Census Number). Today's Adoption documents may have a(C.I.B.)Certificate of Inidan Blood Number there.  If there is one, your child may be a member of that "tribal" Nation. Call/write to that Nation's District/Family Court.

Where do I start?!?
Tops of my letters from the Navajo Nation Chinle District/Family Court, Final Judgement of Adoption, State of Arizona "Certificate of No Birth

In my case I wrote to the Navajo Nation Judicial Branch Chinle District Court to inquire about my court document forms. There will be a fee involved, make sure to pay the fees as you go along.  I had requested a copy of my Final Judgement of Adoption because I needed to send copies to the Navajo Nation Vital Statistics office, The State of Arizona Vital Statistics Office, and The State of New Mexico Vital Statistics Office  as required documentation to start my application process for a native CIB & a State issued "DELAYED" Birth Certificate. (NOTE: I did not have documentation of my birth place so I contacted multiple states the Navajo Nation borders) 

The Chinle District Court and Chinle Family Court (NAVAJO NATION) contact information is:

Chinle District Court

(Chinle Family Court is also at this same address and phone number)

Post Office Box 547

Chinle, Arizona 86503

520-574-2070/2071

FAX 520-674-2089

Get additional copies of your child's (or your) Final Judgement of Adoption because you will need a few copies to send out. In my case I neededcopies for the Navajo Nation Vital Statistics, State of Arizona Vital Statistics and New Mexico Vital Statistics because I didn't know where I was born. You will find downloadable online forms for each U.S. State Vital Statistics office to send with your documentation to request a birth certificate or to start your search. You will need to send money for the fee (I sent a money order), a "Request for Copy of Birth Search Application" (downloaded), copy of your State Issued Identification (and perhaps your social security card) and a copy of the Final Judgement of Adoption -or whatever documentation you have to start the search. 

For your Native Nation Vital Statistics office, look online for that phone number and address. Make a courtesy call and ask them the process. Start by sending in all the documentation you have, even if it is just the Final Judgement of Adoption. The Nation may have downloadable documents or they may have to physically fax, send a pdf/word file, or manually send  a "snail-mail" document to you. Here you will want to send as much information as you can or have. They should be able to assess where you are in the process and continue from there with you. NOTE: There may be cultural differences and language barriers so please make sure you are very clear in communicating with them and make sure they understand what you are saying. In my case, I had to talk to 5 people and two different Navajo Nation Vital Statistics offices to convey my message and to document the receipt of my documentation.

A real good tip here. Many documents go to POST OFFICE BOXES. Send these documents CERTIFIED MAIL and track them online. In my case this was valuable as the State of Arizona "claimed" to have lost my documentation at one point and also the Navajo Nation Window Rock Vital Statistics office was very slow in "receiving", checking their post office box, logging in the mail & opening it up & getting back to me. Make sure to go online to USPS Tracking and checking when the documents were delivered to the post office box assigned to the sending address. CALL and verify the receipt of your package. IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY it is received and looked at in a timely manner. Tell the representative at each office you sent the packages Certified Mail & share the tracking number and information with them. 

Keep in constant communication with the offices where you send your documentation. Do not be timid, be clear with your message and ask for direct phone numbers, email addresses and contact information. "Log" each name, date and time you speak with a representative as this will aid in your research. I always ask first and last name, sometimes you will only get a first name. A good tip here: When calling, be prepared, have a piece of paper, pen or your computer ready to take notes. When you call and they introduce their office and name, write it down, log the time, this will save you from having to ask their name. You will also then be able to include their name and make it more personable, complimenting the representative by "remembering" their name in the conversation. Be sure to be polite, use "please" and "thank you".

Follow the offices directives when given instructions. Follow these to the letter. Each office has a a specific way of doing things and follow their instructions. If you do not know these, ASK. It is in your best interest to know.  Each office will guide you. The more you know, the better your experience will be.

<span>Sources useful for this document/note are:</span>

• Navajo Nation Judicial Branch
• Chinle District Court
• Chinle Famly Court
• Navajo Nation Vital Statistics Office (look up number in the Navajo Nation Directory)
• State of Arizona Vital Statistics Office (website: http://www.azdhs.gov/vitalrcd/ )
• State of New Mexico Vital Statistics Office. (website: http://vitalrec.com/nm.html )
• Navajo Nation Directory (website: http://www.navajo.org/NNDir.htm )

NOTE: I am currently attempting to find funding sources for this page and my blog to help people affected by THE REAL ID ACT of 2005, Adopted Native Americans, Navajo's adopted outside of the Navajo Nation or other Natives adopted outside of their respective nations. If you know of GRANTS available, are able to help write a grant please email me. OR if you know of any funding sources, or are interested in helping out please also email me.

Subject: REAL ID ACT 2005 email to: lelandpmorrill@gmail.com

"LIKE" my page and share it. Please comment as this entry is in direct response to a question. 

Thank you for reading!!

Leland P. Morrill

Email: lelandpmorrill@gmail.com

GRATITUDE FRIDAY! and AMAZING NEWS...you will want to read this entry! Comment please & LIKE my page!!

by Leland P. Morrill Adopted Native American Citizenship Affected by The REAL ID Act of 2005 on Friday, March 18, 2011 at 11:53am

Your note has been created.

Today is GRATITUDE FRIDAY! Also, RED FRIDAY (for the Troops) 

TGIF WWWpeeps. This week started well. I'll actually start with Saturday, as this is now Friday.

Saturday I attended a Human Rights Campaign Gala in Los Angeles. Had a great time, networked, blabbed on, etc. I also met with former U.S. Representative (PA) Patrick Murphy. We didn't really discuss in detail but he's aware of what I am going through now. That was my two cents for publicity for this page at the HRC Gala.

At the 2011 Human Rights Campaign Los Angeles Gala March 2011 with former U.S. Representative Patrick Murphy

Monday I met with a biological cousin Matthew (Matt) downtown Los Angeles. He was here on his very first vacation with his wife. She was studying so I didn't get to meet her. Matt met me at Phillipes downtown Los Angeles. We then took the conversation to Placita Olvera. I showed him my documentation & he asked what he could do to help. I really couldn't think of anything as he doesn't live on the reservation. Throughout the week though, I thought, well geneology and pictures would be great. I presented the geneology idea in an email. He's still on vacation so I haven't heard back  yet. I also read some of his blog because I got stuck in my research & needed some diversion & actually found inspiration & renewed energy from it, THANKS MATTHEW!

My uncle...

**********GREAT INTERUPTION HERE!!!*****************

Gwen Granados from NARA (National Archives and Records Administration) just called me back from the Perris California office. She needs Linda Carolyn Kirk's death date. She wasn't able to release information but I asked, can you say YES or NO? So I confirmed some of my research. 

• December 17, 1943 is Linda Carolyn Kirk's birth date
• Alice Kirk was her mother and died in 1964. Alice moved to California and may be buried here instead of Arizona or New Mexico. Gwen told me that Alice was previously married to an Abraham McCabe perhaps in 1958-1959. 
• Harry Kirk was Linda's father on record so more research on that.
• Linda does have a census number but now I need to provide a death date for that to be released. 
• Linda also attended Phoenix Indian school in the summer of 1960!!! Gwen can't release any records until she has confirmation of Linda Carolyn Kirks' death date.

I told Gwen Linda worked at the Federal Building in Albuquerque so she probably has a social security number. Gwen said the Social Security Administration has a death index and to try Albuquerque & do a few years search if I don't have a date of death. So...yet another lead.

WOWZERZ and Double WOWZERZ!!

I started to say something about Uncle Bob.

Uncle Bob and Aunt Ruth spent much of last Sunday on the phone & internet. Also on Saturday they went to the Ganado Community Cemetary to look for a grave. Most had been vandalized so that was unfortunate. They also attended a family potluck & asked around, no new information. Sunday, Aunt Ruth said St Michaels Catholic Church may have kept cemetary records...so I called and talked to Brother John. I had previously written to Father Flann but never received a response. Brother John talked to Father Flann & no death date. SO, I asked about birth information. Quite a few minutes later, 86 year old Father Flan came up with a Linda Carolyn Kirk born December 17, 1943. WOW..progress. I also asked about my info, nothing there, at least we have the Linda info. Uncle Bob was going to have Aunt Barbara in Albuquerque try and visit the San Domingo Pueblo and try to find out information for Edward "Eddie" Kirk (who we think is my biological father). 

That's it for this entry. So, if any of you out there are also searching, think about contacting Nara http:www.nara.gov about Indian Boarding School records for ancestors. Keep in mind you need Birth, Death info to access the actual records. 

So today being GRATITUDE FRIDAY, I'm thankful to have met Matthew, my cousin, Thankful for Gwen's info from NARA and her guidance, Thankful to Uncle Bob and Aunt Ruth for their search, time, questioning of relatives & also info to get me to St Michaels. Thankful for Father Flann & Brother John of St Michaels for providing verbal birth information. Thankful to Cyndy Taylor for connecting me to Uncle Bob and Aunt Ruth and her continual inquiries about my research.  Also, to all those hidden people who I don't know the names of...oh all the people from Nara, from Ft Worth, Denver, San Bruno and Perris because they came through and sent me office to office until I talked to Gwen this morning (Friday March 18,2011) 

I am grateful!  TGIF indeed. 

LELAND here. I just found out though to use the Social Security Death Index a subscription price of $995.00 has to be paid. So, another financial hurdle...yup it's expensive to do all this.

http://www.ntis.gov/products/ssa-online.aspx

Anyone wanna donate?!? email: lelandpmorrill@gmail.com 

HELLO!

HELLO
pondering over my personal state of affairs
out the window I see weeds growing without dirt
on the roof of a building, no sprinklers, no shade,
most of the leaves are "burned" or dried off,
but
they still thrive.
"I" right now :

• Being self employed in a Depression
• Overcoming hurdles from one sovereign nation to another
• Attempting to enroll into the Navajo Nation with incomplete paper documentation, Mostly verbal.
• Fighting hard to retain my United States Citizenship which is temporary until July 13, 2011
• Overcoming legal issues, bills,  and providing as much information as I need to move forward
• Blogging, making others aware of my own citizenship cause and realizing there are many more
• from many walks of life
• Maintaining relationships with people currently helping me with every aspect of my life as I move forward
• Counting on core friends and aquaintances familiar with my situation for decades, leaning on them

HARD...many times.
GRATEFUL

• Hoping those who I don't communicate do not take the absense incorrectly.
• Searching and finding people willing to help, assigning them tasks and inquiring about their resources.
• Maintaining a balance with my adopted family while discovering an exciting new family The Kirks.
• Verbalizing evidence, paperwork found, documentation needed to forcast further research, finding more resources

HELLO JELLO,
Yes it's tiring, 18 hour days minimum, 20 on a good day.
Breaks?!? What are those?
The balance act of stress, time management, advertising, blogging, researching, phone tags, making others aware of what needs to be done, an order. Creating documentation of my path...STRESS.

Then I think of these plants, no shade, sprinklers,  what they must be going through...10 on a roof growing through cracks high above the city of angels.
HELLO STRESS,
welcome
IT's MY TURN.

by Lele

WORST EMAIL OF THE DAY! Is there a light at the end of the tunnel?? Los Angeles Calling Riverside!

by Leland P. Morrill Adopted Native American Citizenship Affected by The REAL ID Act of 2005 on Tuesday, March 15, 2011 at 3:00pm

Your note has been created.

Re: Boarding School Records for Linda Carolyn Kirk, Navajo Born around 12-17-1943

Inbox

X

 Reply

from Eric Bittner<eric.bittner@nara.gov>

to Lee Morrill <lelandpmorrill@gmail.com>

date Tue, Mar 15, 2011 at 2:19 PM

subject Re: Boarding School Records for Linda Carolyn Kirk, Navajo Born around 12-17-1943

mailed-by nara.gov

  2:19 PM (10 minutes ago)

 Dear Mr. Morrill:

Due to staff limitations, we are unable to undertake the research necessary in order to answer inquiries such as yours.  This regional archives does hold a small amount of records created by the Navajo Indian Agency, although the records are primarily administrative in nature, they do include some files for students that attended day schools at the Navajo Agency.  Unfortunately, we do not have any records of births, deaths, or marriages that occurred at the Navajo Agency.  Additional Navajo Agency records are available at our regional archives facility in Riverside, California.

Records of students who attended Indian schools in Oklahoma may be held by our regional archives in Fort Worth, Texas.  They will most likely need to know the name of the school your mother attended in order to conduct a search for her records.  You can reach them by telephone at (817) 551-2051, or by email atftworth.archives@nara.gov.

If you have not already done so, you may want to contact the Navajo Agency to inquire about any records they may have regarding your mother.  You may also want to see if you can locate a birth or death certificate, which should be on file with the state vital statistics office in either Arizona or New Mexico.  Also, newspaper articles or obituaries might provide additional biographical information about your mother.  Microfilm copies of newspapers may be available at public libraries in New Mexico.

I hope this information is of some assistance.

Sincerely,

ERIC BITTNER

Archivist

(303) 407-5743

GREAT.
ran into a funding issue.
GDrecession!

************************ 

HERE IS THE EMAIL I SENT:

************************

>> Lee Morrill <lelandpmorrill@gmail.com> 3/15/2011 8:07 AM >>>

 Dear Sir/Madame:

My name is Leland Pacheco (Kirk) Morrill. I am Navajo and am undocumented. I was adopted out of the Navajo Nation in 1971 after my biological mother died in a auto accident in Albuquerque NM.

I am attempting to get information regarding Linda Carolyn Kirk who attended an Indian Boarding School in Oklahoma most likely in the late 1950's to mid 1960's. Here's what I can provide:

Linda Carolyn Kirk

Born December 17, 1943 Ganado Az

Navajo

Parents John Kirk and Alice Kirk

I'm hoping that information is somewhat accurate. I have reconnected via the internet with some of my biological relatives and that is what we have pieced together. I'm hoping it's enough to generate some information from you.

If you have any information please email, attach as a pdf, or send to:

Leland P. Morrill

Email: lelandpmorrill@gmail.com

My cell phone number is 323-359-6419 should you require any information. I'm really sorry I do not know any more information. This is a result of 22 years of research by me and 40+ for my adopted parents.

Thank you for your time,

Leland P. Morrill

NOTE: NOW WHERE DO  I GO????

Please feel free to send me $$$'s to fund my research...my address is above.

I AM FRUSTRATED NOW!!!

As most of you know The Real ID Act of 2005 prevents an undocumented person, native born or not, from renewing a State issued Drivers License or Identification Card. I was born in Albuquerque NM-Undocumented. The reason for me attempting to get my biological mothers' boarding school student files is to document verbal information ie. social security #, parents,birth, census number, etc.

H.R. 418: REAL ID Act of 2005 with real citizenship issues

.

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

***In certain cases of adoption, no birth was recorded hence no birth certificate, census number or certificate of indian blood (CIB) were issued or obtained by the adopting parent(s) One mission of this page is to find solutions to obtaining these documentations with ease between working with State DMV's, State Vital Statistics and Tribal Vital Statistic offices, more so, the latter.***

2. TEMPORARY DRIVERS’ LICENSES AND17 IDENTIFICATION 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."

*** THIS MEANS ONE YEAR of TEMPORARY State issued ID or Drivers License***

MINE EXPIRES JULY 13, 2011.

Mmmmkay...


Enough about my frustration.
So after I started to rant to my innerself & expressed some of it in print, I decided..I can't, I must press on...forward.


So I looked up the Riverside office of N.A.R.A., National Archives and Records Administration and emailed  people listed there:
Scott Thompson
Susie Bielawski
Michael Kretch
David Piff  
David Drake


Yup...sent them the same letter I'd sent to Eric Bittner at the Denver NARA and the anonymous lady at the Ft Worth NARA who woke me at 6am.


So, hopefully one of those 5 people from the Riverside (actually Perris Ca) office will now call me. Also I updated my geneology.


Something that strengthened my will to perservere was reading my cousins' blog about his family & some of the trials they've gone through (Yup Matt, I did..hope that was okay.) Monday I met with my biological cousin Matt for the very first time. He flew into LA over the weekend and we connected. I was probably way too verbal with him, but who wouldn't be at first contact? Especially with so much information to convey & not knowing how much time I had.
We met at Phillipe's on Alameda just north of Union Station. I would have eaten there but something didn't seem right. So I suggested we go somewhere else...we headed toward Placita Olvera. We talked & sat out in the sun. Felt great to me as I thought it kind of chilly & then realized...THIS DUDE IS FROM NEW YORK...ya dork! He's prolly roasting. OOPS...my fox paw (faux pas). 
We walked a little & I found out he had a son, wife, blog, some of his history. We ended up getting a quick lunch at La Luz de Diaia, a favourite place for me. This is where I realized what didn't seem right about Phillipes, home of the french dip sandwich, Matt ordered vegetarian. WHEW....glad we change locations. We continued to talk. Me more than him. We walked about & poked into La Iglesia de Nuestra Senora Reina De los Angeles (church). We walked up a bit past a movie set...New York taxi cabs of course. I said HI to the retired cop who always is at all the sets downtown. We ended back at Phillipes where Matt had parked. I went back to researching prices at stores for My New Blinds info (electrical for a client just in case) and Matt went on his way. I was a great visit for me, I hope with him as well. 
Anyway, I now have my research mojo back. 


Sorry if my those of you that have read it already didn't see this last part. Honestly I was really frustrated. That's normal, but also part of normalcy is getting back up on that stubborn mule of life & moving forward.
So...wish me luck!


Please FOLLOW my blog and comment, also tell those who can help or need help because we are a community!
Thanks again for reading. I'm looking forward to the next step.


*************UPDATE MARCH 16, 2011 ************



Reply
from David Drake <David.Drake@nara.gov>
to Lee Morrill <lelandpmorrill@gmail.com>,

Gwen Granados <Gwen.Granados@nara.gov>,

date Wed, Mar 16, 2011 at 6:26 AM
subject Re: Indian Boarding School Records for Linda Carolyn Kirk born approximately December 17,1943
mailed-by nara.gov
hide details 6:26 AM (1 hour ago)
Dear Mr. Morrill,

I am referring your request to our Archives Director in Riverside, Ms. Gwen Granados. While we have Indian Boarding School records for our region, Oklahoma records would normally be kept by archives in other regions. Ms. Granados will advise you on contacts for further work on your request, and will send your request to the appropriate region for further processing.

Good luck in your inquiries, and I hope that your situation can be resolved to your satisfaction.
  
DAVID D. DRAKE