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

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 

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