by Adopted Native American Citizenship Affected by The REAL ID Act of 2005 on Sunday, November 6, 2011 at 12:59am
Jimmy Calabaza and I, Leland Pacheco (Kirk) Morrill
Hi WWWpeeps,
I apologize for not posting notes or info about what I've been up to during the Summer until now. It's been a rough time both financially and otherwise but the Native Spirit in me is resilient. I thank all the great energy around me, for those who've helped me along the way both by helping me figure out a new route when stuck at a dead end through thought, life-pattern, financially, food-wise, etc. I was always helped by some great energy source and I am grateful.
I now am working again at a jewelry company here in Los Angeles. I've spent the summer selling Obagi Vitamin C Serum online at Ebay, that helped pay the bills. For those who purchased that product, THANK YOU. I am grateful because that paid the bills.
In August I decided I needed another source of income, as no job prospects were there, so I signed up with Central Casting and was cast in a film END OF WATCH as an immigrant, then was in a TV series called Rizzoli and Isles as background and in September I was cast as a Tribal Officer in another feature film SAVAGES. Both END OF WATCH and SAVAGES will come out in 2012 so watch for those. In October I gave back and volunteered as an extra in a Stand Up To Cancer national commercial that aired during the 2011 Major League Baseball World Series pre-game and playoffs.
Acting paid the bills and I am grateful for those. I also met up with some great Native American actors from various tribes/nations that live here in Southern California. Some I've remained friends with. Those friendships I am grateful for.
For those who have read my NOTES, you know my struggle and it's been a long expensive achievement toward being enrolled in the Navajo Nation, one where I had to garner some national attention including blogging and facebooking about it. Thank you for reading. And to those who have given input, comment, and suggestions, THANK YOU. I used everything that was given.
Today I decided to attend the annual American Indian Arts Marketplace at The Autry National Center (museum) in Griffith Park across from the Los Angeles Zoo. I attended in part because one of my acting friends Dennis Garica's brother has a booth there ever year. Ted Garcia is Chumash-Tataviam and makes Soapstone carvings and is quite talented, finding many of his stones in the Bouquet Canyon area, near the dam up in northern Los Angeles County near Santa Clarita, California. I arrived after talking to another of my friends Tai, also from acting, and we wandered around as Tai introduced me to many of the native vendors. This was how I happened upon a man named Jimmy Calabaza, from the Santo Domingo Pueblo.
As some of you know from my NOTES, Linda Carolyn Kirk and Eddie Pacheco are my biological parents. At least I've always been told Eddie Pacheco was my father, hence my middle name PACHECO that Judge Joe G Bennalley, Trial Court of the Navajo Tribe in Chinle Arizona, insisted I keep as my middle name instead of KIRK. I've learned over time, there is purpose for events happening, this was one.
It turns out as my search ensued, I learned Linda Kirk, my biological mother, met Eddie Kirk in Albuquerque as she worked a government job there. I was born in 1966 as a result of their relationship. Eddie is from the Santo Domingo Pueblo.
So getting back to Jimmy Calabaza. As my friend Tai was talking to some of the people at Jimmy's booth, I looked at earings & purchased a pair. I started talking about my mother dating a guy named Eddie Pacheco & Jimmys wife was more verbal & she started discussing that with me as Jimmy listened but didn't really say much. We talked about other things, such as internet marketing and such to fill in the gaps of the conversation. I finally got out of Jimmy and his wife that Eddie Pacheco had died. After finding that out, I had this feeling that was the end of the road on my search.
Sometimes that's just the way life is. Just there. I didn't ask when he died as it was a public marketplace and it didn't seem appropriate.I just left it at that. As far as Jimmy and his wife knew, my mother only dated Eddie. I didn't tell them Eddie Pacheco was my biological father. I thought that would be too much to tell them in one dose. I have since emailed Jimmy so as soon as he opens that "pandora box" email, he will be aware the reason for my questions.
The picture above is of me and Jimmy. I thought it interesting how similar our features were. The excuse I gave for attempting and successful photograph was because I wanted a picture of "the artist" the person who made the earrings I purchased. Sly, I know.
On another note, The Navajo Nation is coming out with their National/Tribal ID cards on 11-11-11, Veterans Day. I had planned on attending and was going to take the Amtrak to Gallup. My Aunt and Uncle were going to pick me up and I was going to tell my final decision once I'd talked to the Window Rock Vital Statistics. I emailed Leonard Benally at Vital Statistics soon after President Ben Shelly's National Address where he announced there would be Tribal Cards issued. Mr Benally never responded so I finally called and talked to RuthAnn at Vital Statistics. I found out only 100 ID's would be issued on Veterans Day and people would be selected at random. The likelihood of me getting one that day might have been slim so I have now decided to wait.
My Aunt said December would work for them, so that is what I am going to shoot for taking the Amtrak to Gallup and then heading to the Window Rock Vital Statistics office to get a Tribal Card. I hope ever Navajo Nation member understands the importance of obtaining one, at $17 a pop. It's important as it will replace the green CIB paper.
Well, I'm exhaused from the day and will continue to post other content as time progresses. I am thankful to have my identity back, a State Issued Drivers License & my CIB.WHEW what a year.
I'm also thankful for the reintroduction to my Navajo Roots, meeting my cousin Matthew in March 2011 just before I obtained my CIB. Now to get my brown butt back to the REZ to see the rest of the Kirk family. :)
Thank you so much for reading my NOTES, my frustrations, failures, successes and triumphs. Hopefully my story and any content within this and my blog will assist/help others in their journey and make them aware they are not alone in their search nor are they as unique as they thought.
Walk in Beauty!
Leland
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