Showing posts with label Senate. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Senate. Show all posts

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Navajo Nation celebrates the Treaty of Peace Between the Navajo Indian Tribe and the United States of America...I had to read it


by Leland P. Morrill Adopted Native American Citizenship Affected by The REAL ID Act of 2005 on Wednesday, June 1, 2011 at 8:52pm
My name is Leland Pacheco Morrill, born Leland Pacheco Kirk, son of Linda Carolyn Kirk and Edward Pacheco. My mothers Maternal Clan is Many Goats Clan and her paternal Clan is the Tangle Clan.
I was adopted prior to the 1978 Indian Welfare Act during the time of the Adoption Resource Exchange of North America (ARENA) on July 14, 1971 out of Chinle Arizona to an Ango Mormon family, the Morrills. Judge Joe Bennalley was the Trial Court Judge of the Navajo Tribe who separated me from the Navajo Nation by not assigning me a Census Number, nor referring to my Navajo parents by name or writing in my Final Judgement of Adoption the date of my birth. All these proved successfully to separate me from my native Nation.

It is because of this separation and my determination and law, The Real ID ACT of 2005, that I finally successfully gained membership into the Nation of my birthright on April 11, 2011, almost 40 years after my adoption and through 22 years of research. Because of my inquisitive nature and knowing the Navajo Nation is in celebratory spirits over this Treaty between the Tribe and America, it perked my interest as to what the treaty was about.


I do not speak Navajo, but hope to some day, and also would like to know stories of The Long Walk from Fort Sumpter New Mexico in now where Highway 60 and 86 meet some 300 miles from Chinle, Arizona where I was adopted out of and 328 mile from Fort Defiance where the Navajo Nation Vital Statistics assigned my birth after long discussing and thought this past April.
Leland Pacheco Morrill born Leland Pacheco Kirk...undocumented until April 11, 2011


On June 1, 1968 29 Navajo "headmen" signed the Treaty of Peace Between the Navajo Indian Tribe and the United States of America.


I'm sure few even have read this treaty or know of the Navajo signers:
Barboncito, Chief

Armijo, Delgado, Manuelito, Largo, Herrero, Chiqueto, Muerto De Hombre, Hombro, Narbono, Narbono Segundo, Ganado Mucho

or the Council:

Riquo, Juan Martin, Serginto, Grande, Inoetenito, Muchachos Mucho, Chiqueto Segundo, Cabello Amarillo, Francisco, Torivio, Desdendado, Juan, Guero, Gugadore, Cabason, Barbon Segundo, Cabares Colorados.

First I will go over what my thought are as I'm reading the Treaty for the FIRST TIME. Then afterward is the actual wording of the Treaty so you may understand where my thoughts came from as I was reading through the Treaty of 1968.

Before I start, Happy Independance Day to the Navajo Nation June 1, 2011, my first as a member of the Navajo Nation.

Here goes:

In Article 2 Fort Defiance, in Canon Bonito, is named as the Northern edge of the Navajo Nation Fort Defiance. This is where the Navajo Nation Vital Statistics personnel, Alisia, thought was closest to where I may have been born, this is where I am assigned. Also, as a child I remember hiking down Canyon de Chelly, also named as Canon-de-Chilly in the Treaty.

The costs of buildings to start the nation as being interesting:

Warehouse <=$2,500.00 Agency Building/ (agent "for" the Navajo's) Residence <= $3,000.00 Carpenter Shop $1,000.00 Blacksmith Shop $1,000.00 School $5,000.00 Chapel $5,000.00 This treaty refers to head of a family, where recognition of a matriachial society is not mentioned, the writing is in the masculine only, for homesteading up to 160 acres or any person 18 years old without a family or not being a head of household to have up to 80 acres to cultivate to be known as settlers. It's interesting to read in Article 7 how each farmer receives the first year $100.00 and second and succeeeding years $25.00 for seeds and implementation. I do like how the Treaty provided for education of children ages 6-16 and for a schoolhouse to be provided for every 30 with a teacher, but the thought of only an English Education bothers me, because I myself do not speak Navajo after being separated from my Nation through adoption by one of their own, Judge Joe G. Bennalley. In Article 8 it talks of providing clothing and goods of <=$5.00 to make clothing and blankets and then $10.00 for ten additional years those who do farming or "mechanical" jobs. So making the Navajo Nation industrious or keeping it so, was paramount in this 1868 Treaty. The railroad seemed to be a cause for concern and opposition to it's construction as well. Makes me wonder what a scalp looks like after reading Article 9, 5. I do like how provision of obstruction, such as buildings, railroad, roads, etc are to be compensated to the Navajo Nation within this Treaty. I also like how in Article 10 a vote of 3/4 of the adult male Indians, I'm guessing these would be head of household or males over 18 years of age must be made for any changes in the treaty but am wondering if and how this has been honored throughout time. I'm not liking the wording of "removal, to the reservation" in Article 11. It makes Navajo's sound like cattle, less than human. Then again, there was a long walk of 300 miles. As for the cost of removal $150,000.00 doesn't seem like alot for a removal and starting a new Nation, The Navajo Nation, just before a winter. $50,000.00(estimate) for the removal of the tribe from the Bosque Redonodo Reservation to the Reservation. 15,000 sheep: <=$30,000.00 500 beef cattle 1,000,000 lbs of corn for the relief of the "needy" for the upcoming winter after the 1968 removal onto the Reservation. One part of this Treaty I do not like is Article 8 where it states: " if any Navajo Indian or Indians shall leave the reservation herein described to settle elsewhere, he or they shall forfeit all the rights, privileges, and annuities conferred by the terms of this treaty". My reasoning comes from my own removal through adoption pre-1978 Indian Welfare Act during the time the Child Welfare League of America used A.R.E.N.A., Adoption Resource Exchange of North America program to remove me as a minor off the Navajo Reservation. Oh, Happy Memorial Day 2011!! Happy Memorial Day May 30, 2011 from Santa Monica Beach California Below is the actual wording of the Treaty of 1868




Treaty of Peace Between the Navajo Indian Tribe and the United States of America
Concluded June 1, 1868
Ratification advised July 25, 1868
Proclaimed August 12, 1868


ANDREW JOHNSON
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
OF AMERICA


TO ALL AND SINGULAR TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, GREETING:
Whereas a Treaty was made and concluded at Fort Sumner, in the Territory of New Mexico, on the first day of June, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, by and between Lieutenant General W. T. Sherman and
Samuel F. Tappan, Commissioners, on the part of the United States, and Barboncito, Armijo, and other Chiefs and Headmen of the Navajo tribe of Indians, on the part of said Indians, and duly authorized thereto by them, which Treaty is in the words and figures following, to wit:

Articles of a Treaty and Agreement made and entered into at Fort Sumner, New Mexico, on the first day of June, 1868, by and between the United States, represented by its Commissioners, Lieutenant General W. T. Sherman and Colonel
Samuel F. Tappan, of the one part, and the Navajo nation or tribe of Indians, represented by their Chiefs and Headmen, duly authorized and empowered to act for the whole people of said nation or tribe, (the names of said Chiefs and Headmen being hereto subscribed,) of the other part, witness:


ARTICLE I.

From this day forward all war between the parties to this agreement shall for ever cease. The government of the United States desires peace, and its honor is hereby pledged to keep it. The Indians desire peace, and they now pledge their honor to keep it.


If bad men among the whites, or among other people subject to the authority of the United States, shall commit any wrong upon the person or property of the Indians, the United States will, upon proof made to the agent and forwarded to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs at Washington city, proceed at once to cause the offender to be arrested and punished according to the laws of the United States, and also to reimburse the injured persons for the loss sustained.
If bad men among the Indians shall commit a wrong or depredation upon the person or property of any one, white, black, or Indian, subject to the authority of the United States and at peace therewith, the Navajo tribe agree that they will, on
proof made to their agent, and on notice by him, deliver up the wrongdoer to the United States, to be tried and punished according to its laws; and in case they wilfully refuse so to do, the person injured shall be reimbursed for his loss from the annuities or other moneys due or to become due them under this treaty, or any others that may be made with the United States. And the President may prescribe such rules and regulations for ascertaining damages under this article as in his judgment may be proper; but no such damage shall be adjusted and paid until examined and passed upon by the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, and no one sustaining loss whilst violating, or because of his violating, the provisions of this treaty or the laws of the United States shall be reimbursed therefor.


ARTICLE II.

The United States agrees that the following district of country, to wit: bounded on the north by the 37th degree of north latitude, south by an east and west line passing through the site of old Fort Defiance, in Canon Bonito, east by the parallel of longitude which, if prolonged south, would pass through old Fort Lyon, or the Ojo-de-oso, Bear Spring, and west by a parallel of longitude about 109' 30' west of Greenwicb, provided it embraces the outlet of the Canon-de-Chilly, which canon is to be all included in this reservation, shall be, and the same is hereby, set apart for the use and occupation of the Navajo tribe of Indians, and for such other friendly tribes or individual Indians as from time to time they may be willing, with the consent of the United States, to admit among them; and the United States agrees that no persons except those herein so authorized to do, and except such officers, soldiers, agents, and employes of the government, or of the Indians, as may be authorized to enter upon Indian reservations in discharge of duties imposed by law, or the orders of the President, shall ever be permitted to pass over, settle upon, or reside in, the territory described in this article.


ARTICLE III.

The United States agrees to cause to be built at some point within said reservation, where timber and water may be convenient, the following buildings: a warehouse, to cost not exceeding twenty-five hundred dollars; an agency building for the residence of the agent, not to cost exceeding three thousand dollars; a carpenter shop and blacksmith shop, not to cost exceeding one thousand dollars each; and a school-house and chapel, so soon as a sufficient number of children can be induced to attend school, which shall not cost to exceed five thousand dollars.


ARTICLE IV.

The United States agrees that the agent for the Navajos shall make his home at the agency building; that he shall reside among them and shall keep an office open at all times for the purpose of prompt and diligent inquiry into such matters of complaint by or against the Indians as may be presented for investigation, as also for the faithful discharge of other duties enjoined by law. In all cases of depredation on person or property he shall cause the evidence to be taken in writing and forwarded, together with his finding, to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, whose decision shall be binding on the parties to this treaty.


ARTICLE V.

If any individual belonging to said tribe, or legally incorporated with it, being the head of a family, shall desire to commence farming, he shall have the privilege to select, in the presence and with the assistance of the agent then in charge, a tract of land within said reservation, not exceeding one hundred and sixty acres in extent, which tract, when so selected, certified, and recorded in the "land book" as herein described, shall cease to be held in common, but the same may be occupied and held in the exclusive possession of the person selecting it, and of his family, so long as he or they may continue to cultivate it.

Any person over eighteen years of age, not being the head of the family, may in like manner select, and cause to be certified to him or her for purposes of cultivation, a quantity of land, not exceeding eighty acres in extent, and thereupon be entitled to the exclusive possession of the same as above directed.


For each tract of land so selected a certificate containing a description thereof, and the name of the person selecting it, with a certificate endorsed thereon that the same has been recorded, shall be delivered to the party entitled to it by the agent, after the same shall have been recorded by him in a book to be kept in his office, subject to inspection which said book shall be known as the "Navajo Land Book."
The President may at any time order a survey of the reservation, and, when so surveyed, Congress shall provide for protecting the rights of said settlers in their improvements, and may fix the character of the title held by each. The United States may pass such laws on the subject of alienation and descent of property between the Indians and their descendants as may be thought proper.


ARTICLE VI.

In order to insure the civilization of the Indians entering into this treaty, the necessity of education is admitted, especially of such of them as may be settled on said agricultural parts of this reservation, and they therefore pledge themselves to compel their children, male and female, between the ages of six and sixteen years, to attend school; and it is hereby made the duty of the agent for said Indians to see that this stipulation is strictly complied with; and the United States agrees that, for every thirty children between said ages who can be induced or compelled to attend school, a house shall be provided, and a teacher competent to teach the elementary branches of an English education shall be furnished, who will reside among said Indians, and faithfully discharge his or her duties as a teacher.


The provisions of this article to continue for not less than ten years.


ARTICLE VII.

When the head of a family shall have selected lands and received his certificate as above directed, and the agent shall be satisfied that he intends in good faith to commence cultivating the soil for a living, he shall be entitled to receive seeds and agricultural implements for the first year, not exceeding in value one hundred dollars, and for each succeeding year he shall continue to farm, for a period of two years, he shall be entitled to receive seeds and implements to the value of twenty-five dollars.

ARTICLE VIII.

In lieu of all sums of money or other annuities provided to be paid to the Indians herein named under any treaty or treaties heretofore made, the United States agrees to deliver at the agency house on the reservation herein named, on the first day of September of each year for ten years, the following articles, to wit:


Such articles of clothing, goods, or raw materials in lieu thereof, as the agent may make his estimate for, not exceeding in value five dollars per Indian-each Indian being encouraged to manufacture their own clothing, blankets, etc.; to be furnished with no article which they can manufacture themselves. And, in order that the Commissioner of Indian Affairs may be able to estimate properly for the articles herein named, it shall be the duty of the agent each year to forward to him a full and exact census of the Indians, on which the estimate from year to year can be based.
And in addition to the articles herein named, the sum of ten dollars for each person entitled to the beneficial effects of this treaty shall be annually appropriated for a period of ten years, for each person who engages in farming or mechanical pursuits, to be used by the Commissioner of Indian Affairs in the purchase of such articles as from time to time the condition and necessities of the Indians may indicate to be proper; and if within the ten years at any time it shall appear that the amount of money needed for clothing, under the article, can be appropriated to better uses for the Indians named herein, the Commissioner of Indian Affairs may change the appropriation to other purposes, but in no event shall the amount of this appropriation be withdrawn or discontinued for the period named, provided they remain at peace. And the President shall annually detail an officer of the army to be present and attest the delivery of all the goods herein named to the Indians, and he shall inspect and report on the quantity and quality of the goods and the manner of
their delivery.


ARTICLE IX.

In consideration of the advantages and benefits conferred by this treaty, and the many pledges of friendship by the United States, the tribes who are parties to this agreement hereby stipulate that they will relinquish all right to occupy any territory outside their reservation, as herein defined, but retain the right to hunt on any unoccupied lands contiguous to their reservation, so long as the large game may range thereon in such numbers as to justify the chase; and they, the said Indians, further expressly agree:

That they will make no opposition to the construction of railroads now being built or hereafter to be built, across the continent.
That they will not interfere with the peaceful construction of any railroad not passing over their reservation as herein defined.
That they will not attack any persons at home or travelling, nor molest or disturb any wagon trains, coaches, mules or cattle belonging to the people of the United States, or to persons friendly therewith.
That they will never capture or carry off from the settlements women or children.
They will never kill or scalp white men, nor attempt to do them harm.
They will not in future oppose the construction of railroads, wagon roads, mail stations, or other works of utility or necessity which may be ordered or permitted by the laws of the United States; but should such roads or other works be constructed on the lands of their reservation, the government will pay the tribe whatever amount of damage may be assessed by three disinterested commissioners to be appointed by the President for that purpose, one of said commissioners to be a chief or head man of the tribe.
They will make no opposition to the military posts or roads now established, or that may be established, not in violation of treaties heretofore made or hereafter to be made with any of the Indian tribes.


ARTICLE X.

No future treaty for the cession of any portion or part of the reservation herein described, which may be held in common, shall be of any validity or force against said Indians unless agreed to and executed by at least three-fourths of all the adult male Indians occupying or interested in the same; and no cession by the tribe shall be understood or construed in such manner as to deprive, without his consent, any individual member of the tribe of his rights to any tract of land selected by him as provided in article 5 of this treaty.


ARTICLE XI.

The Navajos also hereby agree that at any time after the signing of these presents they will proceed in such manner as may be required of them by the agent, or by the officer charged with their removal, to the reservation herein provided for, the United States paying for their subsistence en route, and providing a reasonable amount of transportation for the sick and feeble.


ARTICLE XII.

It is further agreed by and between the parties to this agreement that the sum of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars appropriated or to be appropriated shall be disbursed as follows, subject to any conditions provided in the law, to wit:
The actual cost of the removal of the tribe from the Bosque Redondo reservation to the reservation, say fifty thousand dollars.
The purchase of fifteen thousand sheep and goats, at a cost not to exceed thirty thousand dollars.
The purchase of five hundred beef cattle and a million pounds of corn, to be collected and held at the military post nearest the reservation, subject to the orders of the agent, for the relief of the needy during the coming winter.
The balance, if any, of the appropriation to be invested for the maintenance of the Indians pending their removal, in such manner as the agent who is with them may determine.
The removal of this tribe to be made under the supreme control and direction of the military commander of the Territory of New Mexico, and when completed, the management of the tribe to revert to the proper agent.

ARTICLE XIII.
The tribe herein named, by their representatives, parties to this treaty, agree to make the reservation herein described their permanent home, and they will not as a tribe make any permanent settlement elsewhere, reserving the right to hunt on the lands adjoining the said reservation formerly called theirs, subject to the modifications named in this treaty and the orders of the commander of the department in which said reservation may be for the time being; and it is further agreed and understood by the parties to this treaty, that if any Navajo Indian or Indians shall leave the reservation herein described to settle elsewhere, he or they shall forfeit all the rights, privileges, and annuities conferred by the terms of this treaty; and it is further agreed by the parties to this treaty, that they will do all they can to induce Indians now away from reservations set apart for the exclusive use and occupation of the Indians, leading a nomadic life, or engaged in war against the people of the United States, to abandon such a life and settle permanently in one of the territorial reservations set apart for the exclusive use and occupation of the Indians.

In testimony of all which the said parties have hereunto, on this the first day ofJune, eighteen hundred and sixty-eight, at Fort Sumner, in the Territory of New Mexico, set their hands and seals.

W. T. SHERMAN
Lt. Gen'l, Indian Peace Commissioner.

S. F. TAPPAN, Indian Peace Commissioner.

BARBONCITO, Chief. his x mark.
ARMIJO. his x mark.
DELGADO.
MANUELITO. his x mark.
LARGO. his x mark.
HERRERO. his x mark.
CHIQUETO. his x mark.
MUERTO DE HOMBRE. his x mark.
HOMBRO. his x mark.
NARBONO. his x mark.
NARBONO SEGUNDO. his x mark.
GANADO MUCHO. his x mark.
COUNCIL.
RIQUO. his x mark.
JUAN MARTIN. his x mark.
SERGINTO. his x mark.
GRANDE. his x mark.
INOETENITO. his x mark.
MUCHACHOS MUCHO. his x mark.
CHIQUETO SEGUNDO. his x mark.
CABELLO AMARILLO. his x mark.
FRANCISCO. his x mark.
TORIVIO. his x mark.
DESDENDADO. his x mark.
JUAN. his x mark.
GUERO. his x mark.
GUGADORE. his x mark.
CABASON. his x mark.
BARBON SEGUNDO. his x mark.
CABARES COLORADOS. his x mark.
Attest:
Geo. W. G. Getty, Col. 37th Inf'y, Bt. Maj. Gen't U. S. A.
B. S. Roberts, Bt. Brg. Gen't U. S. A., Lt. Col. 3rd Cav'y.
J. Cooper Mckee, Bt. Lt. Col. Surgeon U. S. A.
Theo. H. Dodd, U. S. Indian Ag't for Navajos.
Chas. McClure, Bt. Maj. and C. S. U. S. A.
James F. Weeds, Bt. Maj. and Asst. Surg. U. S. A.
J. C. Sutherland, Interpreter.
William Vaux, Chaplain U. S. A.

And whereas, the said treaty having been submitted to the Senate of the United States for its constitutional action thereon, the Senate did, on the twenty-fifth day of July, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, advise and consent to the ratification of the same, by a resolution in the words and figures following, to wit:

In Executive Session, Senate of the United States,
July 25, 1868

Resolved, (two-thirds of the senators present concurring,) That the Senate advise and consent to the ratification of the treaty between the United States and the Navajo Indians, concluded at Fort Sumner, New Mexico, on the first day of June, 1868.


Attest:
GEO. C. GORHAM,
Secretary,
By W. J. McDONALD,
Chief Clerk.


Now, therefore, be it known that 1, Andrew Johnson, President of the United States of America, do, in pursuance of the advice and consent of the Senate, as expressed in its resolution of the twenty-fifth of July, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, accept, ratify, and confirm the said treaty


In testimony whereof, I have hereto signed my name, and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.


one at the City of Washington, this twelfth day of August, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, and of the Independence of the
United States of America the ninety-third.


By the President:
W. Hunter,
Acting Secretary of State

SIGNING OF THE 1868 TREATY OF PEACE BETWEEN THE NAVAJO INDIAN TRIBE AND THE UNITED STATES
June 1, 1968, LYNDON B. JOHNSON, President of the United States of America

SOURCE: http://reta.nmsu.edu/modules/longwalk/lesson/document/treaty.htm

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

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

My Additions/Amendment suggestion/ reasoning to THE REAL ID ACT of 2005 submitted to Chai Feldblum, U.S.Commissioner of the EEOC

by Leland P. Morrill Adopted Native American Citizenship Affected by The REAL ID Act of 2005 on Sunday, April 10, 2011 at 12:29pm

Chai Feldblum and Leland Morrill
at the UCLA School of Law 10th Annual Update Conference:
"!0 Years of Impact: Advancing LGBT Law and Public Policy"
picture taken Saturday April 09,2011- courtesy of Leland P. Morrill
Chai Feldblum website: http://www.eeoc.gov/eeoc/feldblum.cfm
By Leland P. Morrill
My suggested additions/amendments to H. R. 418 ‘‘REAL ID Act of 2005’’.

Page 3

1 ‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—The burden of 
2 proof is on the applicant to establish that 
3 the applicant is a refugee, within the 
4 meaning of section 101(a)(42)(A). To es-
5 tablish that the applicant is a refugee with-
6 in the meaning of such section, the appli-
7 cant must establish that race, religion, na-
8 tionality, membership in a particular social 
9 group ADD ",NATIVE AMERICAN NATION", or political opinion was or will be a 
10 central reason for persecuting the appli-
11 cant

REASON for the the add "NATIVE AMERICAN NATION": To include Native Americans who may have been separated from their nations through adoption, who do not have proper documentation such as a birth certificate (Native Nation or State issued, Certificate of Indian Blood, or Native American Census Number to direct them through each State Department of Public Safety/Department of Motor Vehicles to their respective Nation Vital Statistics for assistance. 
--------------------------------------
Page 8
1 each such statement, the consistency of such 
2 statements with other evidence of record (in-
3 cluding the reports of the Department of State 
4 on country conditions), ADD "NATIVE NATION ADOPTION FINAL JUDGEMENT OF ADOPTIONS" and any 
  inaccuracies or 
5 falsehoods in such statements, without regard 
6 to whether an inconsistency, inaccuracy, or 
7 falsehood goes to the heart of the applicant’s 
8 claim. There is no presumption of credibility.’’. 


REASON for add "NATIVE NATION ADOPTION FINAL JUDGEMENT OF ADOPTIONS" : Some Native American adoption decrees did not supply birth parent names, birth dates, birthplace or Native American Census Numbers or Certificate of Indian Blood numbers. These Adoption Decrees need to be considered and accepted giving the applicant or witness time to have a Native American Nation or Tribal Court Judge correct change amend this supporting document and to give the applicant or witness the necessary time to have their respective Native Nation or Tribal Vital Statistics office supply them with membership into the Native American Nation or Tribe, and supply a "delayed" birth certificate or birth affidavit and/or Certificate of Indian Blood or Census Number to supply a United State Immigration Judge supporting documents.

 ____________________________________________________
PAGE 45
 TITLE II—IMPROVED SECURITY FOR DRIVERS’ LICENSES AND PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION CARDS



13 (B) EVIDENCE OF LAWFUL STATUS.—A 
14 State shall require, before issuing a driver’s li-
15 cense or identification card to a person, valid 
16 documentary evidence that the person—
17 (i) is a citizen of the United States; 
ADD: Is a member of a Native American Nation or Tribe
18 (ii) is an alien lawfully admitted for 
19 permanent or temporary residence in the 
20 United States; 

REASON for add "Is a member of a Native American Nation or Tribe":  To make sure each State Department of Public Works/Department of Motor Vehicles understands that there are Nations within the United States boarders who have their own members and documentation. Final Judgement of Adoptions issuved by Trail Courts of a Tribe or Native Nation should be considered even if a birth date, birth place birth parents, census number, certificate of indian blood have been omitted by the Native Nation/Tribal Trial Court Judge.
______________________________________________________________
PAGE 46

18 (i) IN GENERAL.—If a person pre-
19 sents evidence under any of clauses (v) 
20 through (ix) of subparagraph (B), the 
21 State may only issue a temporary driver’s 
22 license ADD "plastic card" or temporary identification ADD "plastic" card to 
23 the person. 
24 (ii) EXPIRATION DATE.—A temporary 
25 driver’s license ADD "plastic card" or temporary identification ADD "plastic"
Page 47 HR 418 RFS 
1 card issued pursuant to this subparagraph 
2 shall be valid only during the period of 
3 time of the applicant’s authorized stay in 
4 the United States or, if there is no definite 
5 end to the period of authorized stay, a pe-
6 riod of one year. 
7 (iii) DISPLAY OF EXPIRATION
8 DATE.—A temporary driver’s license  ADD "plastic card" or 
9 temporary identification ADD "plastic" card issued pursu-
10 ant to this subparagraph shall clearly indi-
11 cate that it is temporary and shall state 
12 the date on which it expires. 
13 (iv) RENEWAL.—A temporary driver’s 
14 license INSERT "plastic card" or temporary identification INSERT "plastic" card 
15 issued pursuant to this subparagraph may 
16 be renewed only upon presentation of valid 
17 documentary evidence that the status by 
18 which the applicant qualified for the tem-
19 porary driver’s license ADD "plastic card" or temporary identi-
20 fication ADD "plastic" card has been extended by the Sec-
21 retary of Homeland Security.

REASON: The reason for insert of "plastic card" and "plastic":  Some States, such as Utah, are issuing paper temporary Identification and paper Driver Licenses...these are not cards. Paper can be easily destroyed by getting wet, torn, or folded so much inside a wallet to make it unreadable.  A temporary State issued Identification, temporary State issued Drivers License must be a plastic card.
Part of the reasoning is because some applicants/witnesses who previously had State issued Identification and/or Drivers License cards are using the "paper" printouts issued by States (such as Utah) as identification required for financial institutions, employers, , accessing social services, public assistance, etc. Questions arise because of the paper printouts. Paper printouts may be deemed as unacceptable forms of identifying the applicant/witness or individual by the trier at their own discression. In these cases the denial of use of a State Issued paper printout does a dis-service and denies rights to the applicant/witness/individual creating a new subclass.
______________________________________________

PAGE 48

7 (B) The State shall not accept any foreign 
8 document, other than an official passport, ADD "or Native American Nation/Tribal document(s)" to 
9 satisfy a requirement of paragraph (1) or (2)

REASON for the ADD "or Native American Nation/Tribal document(s)": Some Native Americans were adopted out of their tribes to non tribe members and were adopted out with the only link to their birth being their Native American Nation/Tribe issued Final Judgement of Adoption. In some cases the Final Judgement of Adoption does not include birth date, birth place birth parents, census number, or certificate of indian blood. These have been omitted by the Native Nation/Tribal Trial Court Judge and need ample time for correction by the respective Native Nation/Tribe Trial Court or Native Nation/Tribal Vital Statistics Office.
___________________________________________________

OF SPECIAL NOTE:
a State issued (DMV) paper printout (such as what the UTAH DMV ususes) of a drivers license or identification card does not satisfy the following requirement as defined on page 48-49:
Page 48
22 (d) OTHER REQUIREMENTS.—To meet the require-
23 ments of this section, a State shall adopt the following 
24 practices in the issuance of drivers’ licenses and identifica-
25 tion cards: 

Page 49
9(9) Establish fraudulent document recognition 
10 training programs for appropriate employees en-
11 gaged in the issuance of drivers’ licenses and identi-
12 fication cards

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

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?!?

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.

Friday, March 18, 2011

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