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’’.

Link to view full version: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-109hr418rfs/pdf/BILLS-109hr418rfs.pdf

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

Am I a FOOL for doing a Gratitude Friday today?!? You tell me...LOL

by Leland P. Morrill Adopted Native American Citizenship Affected by The REAL ID Act of 2005 on Friday, April 1, 2011 at 6:19pm

It's Gratitude Friday. 

I'm struggling with this one because it wasn't my best of weeks. 

First I'm going off topic, just facebooked my cousin Ryan who is in Iraq fighting for our freedom. To him THANK YOU. He is the son of my Aunt Kaye, my adopted father Stan Morrill's younger sister. That was the highlight of my day.

Second, my friend Troy who I leaned on heavily this week. Troy has been a great friend for 26+ years, He's heard  every triumph, struggle, brainstorm and witnessed the progress of my family research. He also witnessed this week a company failed that other partners, my parents and I invested in a few years ago & had promoted. Tuesday the  doors of that company closed. It was a short walk away from my adopted parents' home...actually about a mile, but close enough to walk given you have a luxury called time. Troy also has helped me cope with other family business difficulties, during our current Depression, by being a sounding board, talking about life and moving forward. I hope everyone of you have found great frends to turn to during life's ups and downs. Thanks Troy. 

My friend Troy (right) and I at the openning of the Mike O'Callaghan – Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge above Hoover Dam

Third, family both adopted and biological. My adopted sister Ginny (born Virginia Bitsui) and I last night spent about 3 hours on the phone & computer together. She lives in Magna Utah and I live in Los Angeles, California. She recounted her re-aquaintance with the Bitsui family, how her sister works for a hospital in Chinle, where they live, family dynamics, her struggle with understanding the culture and her want to learn Navajo and perhaps attending the "Navajo College".  We spent the majority of the three hours virtually "driving" through Chinle recounting childhood memories as foster children to the Morrills. From 1969 ot 1971 we lived behind the old LDS/Mormon Church close to Navajo Blvd & Indian Route 27. The hill behind the old church was our playground. My sister and I also virtually "drove" around Chinle up by the Hospital on Indian Route 102 and close to Chief Manuelito Blvd, up and down the Highway 191 past the new LDS/Mormon Church, the Shell Gas Station, A&W, Burger King & shopping center up north of Chinle where her natural family lives. We had alot of fun. It was great hearing her story that dated from 1992 until just a few years ago when she went to her nieces wedding in a hogan north of Chinle.

My sister I was adopted with on July 15, 1971 Ginny and I. Her biological family is the Bitsui's from the Chinle area.

My biological Uncle Bob also gave his word to write out and notorize a statement on my behalf to the Navajo Nation Office of Vital Statistics. He and my Aunt Ruth called me "conference call" and talked. I talked to my adopted mom today & she said she would do the same.

So, even though it seems like my private & professional life has plummeted as far as it can go, there still is a beacon of light, HOPE...and a ton of gratitude.

Thank you friends, family, fellow researchers, WWWpeeps for all the great info, for reading and especially to those who are there for me in my darkest hour before the dawn.

I feel loved and and extremely grateful.- Leland

__________________________________________________________________________

An update of my research. As you know I was adopted out of the Navajo Nation in 1971 with my sister Ginny. She was documented, I was not. I have had to struggle to figure out how to survive these past few years with on&off temporary State issued identification papers.  Not the plastic State issued ID/Drivers license but paper...like the ones you copy to. Here's what I always carry with me, a copy of my adoption papers & my paper ID in this black case.

YUP I carry this case with my adoption papers in it and my paper ID card just in case.

Try taking that to your job interview or favourite dance hall, bowling alley, venue, airport, bank, credit union or store..a paper id is not treated the same, very much second class. I can tell you from experience, no-one accepts it at first & you have to explain to them and point out that the paper temporary ID is really valid & then I back it up with a copy of my adoption papers. This is a loophole, a disparity when one is  adopted without a Navajo census number, certificate of indian blood or birth certificate, post REAL ID ACT of 2005 enacted January 01, 2010.

virtual driving along Window Rock Blvd today...Google Style

As you know the Window Rock Navajo Nation Vital Statistics Office was closed Monday Tuesday and Wednesday this  week so the wait was long to call back. I emailed Leonard Benally March 31 at 8:10am notifying him to expect a notorized affidavit from my Uncle Bob. I called in the afternoon just before 3pm. Leonard Benally and Alisia Milford were not in and Marge was acting Manager of the Window Rock Vital Statistics Office. We talked for a very long while she knew a Virgil Kirk who was born in 1923 talked about a Carolyn Kirk who is a Judge and several other Kirks. We also went over some of my research  verbally again & she checked some of my research. She said she would call Leonard tomorrow (Friday).

Today is Friday! TGIF!!

I called Leonard Benally and he hasn't received my Uncle Bob's notorized affidavit. Not too surprising because I've had problems with this office recieving mail before. Oddly enough Velma (keeper of the mail log) was there, she must be back from sick leave, now that I think of it, shoulda talked to her.  Anyhow we talked and I also told him I was going to a conference on April 8-9, 2011...next Friday and Saturday at UCLA School of Law. 

Robert Groves, Director of the U.S. Census, is scheduled to speak Saturday & also in attendance will be Chief Justice 

Alex Kozinski, Congresswoman Judy Chu and former Rep. Patrick Murphy from Pennsylvania who I met in March 2011.  I'm definately bringing my documentation and furthering my cause, intending to make an impression with them problems the Real ID Act of 2005 is inflicting on undocumented adopted Native Americans.

So, kids...next Friday the "Gratitude Friday" may be delayed until late Saturday evening....after I digest information shared through the conference.

Please LIKE my page. Please comment or make suggestions if you'd like! Thank you for reading!!  Leland P. Morrill

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

I talked to my Biological Uncle Bob last night!!!! I rewrote my personal history. My adopted mom Gwena Morrill was on mark.

Last night (March 02,2011) I was able to talk to my biological Uncle Bob.

My biological Uncle Bob

(click on image to enlarge)

I am still reeling from just the honor to be able to talk to blood relatives. Being adopted that is a pinnacle moment in personal history. He told me about my mother Linda Kirk, about her paternal clan "The Tangle Clan" and Maternal Clan "Many Goats Clan" tentatively my father's clan "San Felipe Clan" . I must have asked a hundred questions to which Uncle Bob was way too polite to answer. Many had to do with my mother, my research, I openned up research notes and just went down the line of thirty plus people with the surname KIRK, some related by blood some with the same last name with other relations through marriages, etc. 

I also found out that my adopted mom, Gwena Morrill's account wasn't too far off. I felt bad reading her statement that my little brother Christopher was dead. Bob & everyone else thought I was the one who was dead. 

My Uncle Bob was in Junior High School in Ganado when my mom was in a car accident in Albuquerque New Mexico. They received a call from the hospital in Albuquerque stating she had been in an auto accident and was in critical condition. There was no transportation or money to get to Albuquerque, New Mexico from Ganado, Arizona so no one went. She died there and her body was transported back to Ganado Arizona where she is now buried. 

Just writing that last paragraph makes my heart ache. No one may have been there at the hospital by my mom Linda Kirk's side when she was in pain and died. What a travesty.

Meanwhile, I'm assuming Christopher and I were in Albuquerque and this may be when I was placed in the Saint Anthony's Orphanage in Albuquerque.

My adopted mother had St Anthony's  information on a scrap of paper that has survived these 40 plus years. Somehow Christopher and I ended back up in Arizona. My little brother Christopher ended up somewhere with "relatives" at some point and this is what my adopted mom Gwena Morrill wrote (and what I read to Uncle Bob):

" We were told you had a younger brother named Christopher that lived with John Kirk and his wife.  I don't recall her name.  Their son (I can't think of his name, but he was maybe 5 to 8 years older than you) told me about Christopher.  I was taking him home from seminary in the seminary van.  I had you and Virginia with me.  You would have been 3 or 4.  I was thinking he was 10, but can't remember for sure.  He asked me if you were Leland Kirk.  I said yes.  He then told me your little brother Christopher had lived with them.  He said something like this. "One night when he went to bed, he was fine.  The next morning he was dead so we moved."-Gwena Morrill Fri, Feb 11, 2011 at 3:16 PM

My little brother Christopher, may he rest in peace knowing he is not forgotten, is deceased. 

Somehow the messages got mixed up on the Kirk side of the family because they thought I was deceased/dead. Thankfully I am with the living.

Around that time according to my mom, Gwena Morrill:

"Welfare told us you'd been living with your grandparents in the sheep camp.  We later learned it was your mother's grandparents.  It kind of seems like their name was Pacheco, but our friend said Andy(?) said your name was Kirk.

 it was there that you were in a fire.  Your (great) grandfather was blind. Your (great) grandmother went out with the sheep.  They lived in a hogan with an open fire pit.  You walked into the fire and was burned.  That was our understanding of why you were in the hospital for 2 months before being placed with us."-Gwena Morrill Fri, Feb 11, 2011 at 3:16 PM

Uncle Bob cannot recall a sheep camp so that was puzzling to him. They didn't know where Christopher and I were for a while & I (Leland Pacheco Kirk) was presumed dead at some point. 

After being in a fire, according to my health records obtained during research, I went to the Keams Canyon Arizona PHS INDIAN HOSPITAL on June 16,1969  with foot burns, a broken arm (dislocated "Ankylosis" right  elbow that was never reset correctly), and of course severe malnutrition.  I was transfered from there after one month (I think that's what "RTC 1Mo." means) to the Gallup New Mexico Indian Hospital "Gallup 802" on July 19,1969.  I stayed there until I was placed into a foster home on September 19,1969.

That foster family is Stanley  and Gwena  Morrill. I went back for a check up in Gallup one last time on October 21, 1969. I also have hospital records that date until May 28, 1970.

My sister Virginia Bitsui and I (Leland Pacheco Kirk) were adopted on July 15,1971.

REMEMBER I was adopted without:

• a Certificate of Navajo Blood,
• a Birth Certificate,
• a Census Number,

no trace to the Navajo Nation except a Final Judgement of Adoption issued in the Trial Court of the Navajo Tribe; Judicial District of Chinle Arizona.

• Judge Joe G Bennalley was the Judge, Trial Court of the Navajo Tribe
• Pearl Baautista was the Clerk, Courts of the Navajo Tribe who signed my final adoption papers without notifiying the Kirk family in any way.

My mother, Gwena Morrill did apply for a Birth Certificate and that application still sits in a file where Alisia Millford of the Window Rock Navajo Office of Vital Records verified that document still sits after 40 years, never answered or followed up by any member of the Navajo Nation Tribal Court system.

July 16, 1971 Virginia, me and my baby brother Shaun who'd been adopted in Phoenix  moved with the Morrills to Burford Ontario Canada. I think we stopped over at my new Uncle and Aunt Tony & Viola Monk's in Chicago on the way...could be wrong on that one. 

We talked all about my growing up. About what little details of Linda Kirk and Kirk family history and relatives.

It was an amazing conversation. I hope EVERY READER is able to experience the candid conversation with a blood relative of all the research, how long they've looked for you and how long you've looked for them. I hope my story finds some media attention through my blog and facebook page so others can find the resources and ways to research based on my story.  I thank each and everyone who reads these blog/note entries because the more exposure comes of Native Americans Affected by THE REAL ID ACT of 2005, the more people can be helped.

There were others who I had written to throughout the years:

1. Catholic Pator/Rev Blane Grein, OFM Chinle Arizona---no reply or response
2. Rev Flann O'Neil OFM, Ganado Arizona---no reply or response
3. Rev Gilbert Schneider OFM Fort Defiance AZ ---no reply

STILL I NEVER GAVE UP... YOU CANNOT AFFORD TO GIVE UP, it is YOUR HISTORY and YOUR PEOPLE!

I'm fortunate. My Uncle Bob has agreed to help me obtain what documents I need, even agreeing to go to Window Rock the Navajo Nation Capitol to assist and ask why these documents were not given.

I thank him in advance for this. I also gained an aunt Aunt Ruth, who will most likely read this blog and note! I am blessed to know the both of them after 42 years.

Thank you again.

Leland Pacheco Morrill born Leland Pacheco Kirk

My mom's paternal clan "The Tangle Clan" and My mom's Maternal Clan "Many Goats Clan" tentatively my father's clan "San Felipe Clan"

(I HAVE TO LEARN HOW TO SAY THAT RIGHT) Sorry no offense intended. I'm just doing a quick re-entry into the Navajo Customs.