Wouldn't you know, just as I'm finalizing documentation it's THE END OF THE WORLD!!! EEEEK!!!!

by Leland P. Morrill
Adopted Native American Citizenship Affected by The REAL ID Act of 2005 on Friday, May 20, 2011 at 11:29pm
Just kidding! LMAO.

This week was rather tumultous. Even though I now have a plastic California Identification Card, I still did not have my Drivers License. Tuesday May 17, 2011 I went to the California DMV down by USC on Hope Street and waited in line. While in line, I read the entire Drivers License Manual. I had arrived around 12:30 p.m. thinking that would be enough time to get in to take the test, by 4:00 p.m. I was getting worried that the cut off time had passed. NOT SO! I made it by minutes, 4:25 p.m. I took my mugshot, forgot to pose like I'd been trained to for media events so my picture was less than what I wanted but still it's my mug.

Wouldn't you know, just as I was entering the testing area, my cellphone rings! My little brother Shaun. LOL. Well, he didn't know, but immediately I saw the NO CELLPHONES sign. After turning off my phone the DMV person yelled: "NO CELLPHONES!!! TURN OFF YOUR CELL PHONE!" I immediately stated I didn't even know it was on, which I really didn't. I then took the multiple "guess" test quickly and was done in 10 minutes. Hmmmm yup, so I rechecked my answers thinking it couldn't be that easy and I sure didn't want to fail so I rechecked one more time, I handed in my test and then had to prove I had a previous drivers license. I pulled out that worthless paper copy the Utah DMV Fairpark asked for & immediatlely the DMV Tester said "I can't accept that"

My old Utah paper Temporary Drivers License. It's worthless to the California DMV and as an ID "card" No one accepts it!

Well, I kind of knew it and started to plead my case. He listened, thought about it and said, well you passed but I can't accept that. Talk to a supervisor downstairs at window 21.
Window 21 wasn't labeled so I immediately asked as it was now about 5:00 p.m., closing time. I got a supervisor around 5:15 p.m. Same story, but she said Utah DMV could send a clearance letter. So I immediately called Nanette Rolfe's cellphone number. Nanette is the Utah Department of Public Safety Drivers License Division Director and left a message. I did the same on her work phone number and also called Jill Laws' work phone number and left a message. Jill is the Deputy Director of the Utah Drivers License Division.

I was really upset because here I'd paid the fee, passed the test and one more hurdle. Then my little brother texted me and I sent back a "bitchy" text: "What do you want?" Actually it was uncalled for but I hadn't blown off steam yet and he was an immediate recipient. Funny how sometimes you lash back at those who you love the most. Sorry Shaun, if you reading this. Anyway, he called me on it in his colorful language via text & made me laugh but I was still mad.

I finally talked to him, Still upset and he offered to help. That's what I found so amazing. Sometimes people ask to help you. I knew I needed to scan my CIB, Certificate of Indian Blood, and Brith Affidavit and sent those off in an email as a PDF to Nanette and Jill so off I went to FedEx/Kinkos. Guess who was working? Jesus...of course! He actually helped me quite a bit because the scanner jammed up, my USB flash drive wasn't recognized by their computer, so we sent it to my email. I also sent it to Shaun and my best friend Troy just in case. I've learned to sometimes overcompensate and send files to multiple people and myself for an electronic timestamp.

I actually didn't know Jills email address but knew Nanettes. So, I kind of guessed it. Good thing because Jill called me as I was working out a housing issue the next morning, Wednesday May 18, 2011. Jill said she faxed the California DMV the clearance letter and also sent me a PDF just in case. She knows my style. Very cool.

Utah DMV Clearance Letter...Thanks Jill for sending it so quickly!!

After a meeting with housing off to the DMV I went. Upon arrival, they had my paperwork ready. Whatever it was Jill sent, it got their attention. THANKS JILL! I now have an Interim Drivers License issued by California DMV, now awaiting the plastic card.

YAY. My California Interim Drivers License.

I've also now applied for two jobs with the Torres Martinez Desert Cahilla Indian Tribe. Both position required a California Drivers License, I'm hoping to get one of them. Cynthia at the Wilshire office here in Los Angeles gave me an application and an internal job posting list of positions she thought I'd be qualified for once the drivers license was issued. So cross your fingers and toes people! I need a job just like everyone else!

I do have to thank Shaun, my little brother for asking to help and being a sounding board about my frustrations. My friend Troy has also heard my frustrations and concerns. Troy has been through the entire twenty two years of my research. To him, for being a sounding board, suggesting things I'd never think of, and just plain being a good friend, which says alot about his good character, patience, and level of friendship. Thanks Troy!

Also, later, Shaun called me to tell me there is a girl here in North Hollywood, a daughter of a client, who is Cherokee and going through the same Real ID Act of 2005 documentation nightmare I am now exiting. Shaun asked me if I'd help her. OF COURSE!
So, if your reading this, call me! Oh, and your mother Robin has my phone number. Just sayin. I'm here, and have plenty of fresh knowledge and willing to help.

Thank you all for reading my entry/blog. This has been a great diary and I've had to refer to it during telephone calls to tell the Navajo Nation Vital Statistics office, The National Archives, Navajo Relatives, The Arizona Vital Statistics Office of my progress. Blogging and also creating an online pedigree chart accessable by any computer has literally saved many a conversation and aided in defending my cause and helping me move forward. So, if you are in this process, please write down everything because, you can always refer back to it!

Also, please LIKE my Facebook Page. READ my notes. Remember, this blog contains just my notes and has a PayPal feature where you can donate :)
This process is greater than just me and others will need help. Perhaps this can be a way to assist others and once I get myself back onto my financial feet will be able to set up a nonprofit to help others.

You may notice, I also will have EBAY items up for sale on my Facebook Page. Feel free to purchase those items as well.

Above all, This is now to help others. If you have any questions, comments, suggestions, ideas for me to write about pertaining to The Real ID Act of 2005, Certificate of Indian Blood, Native Affidavit of Birth...PLEASE, suggest! I welcome it!

Peace out!

Birth Certificates are a ROYAL PAIN...even to our Commander in Chief...just sayin.

by Leland P. Morrill Adopted Native American Citizenship Affected by The REAL ID Act of 2005 on Friday, April 29, 2011 at 8:05pm

Wow. What a media week. Obama and his controversial birth certificate problems and the marriage of Prince William to Kate Middleton. What struck me about  the Obama/Trump fiasco in the news was how he was continually pressed with supplying an original copy of his State of Hawaii Birth Certificate

( see link for more info: http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/04/27/president-obamas-long-form-birth-certificate )

This struck me because of THE REAL ID  ACT of 2005 at some point all people residing in the United States will have to prove legal status. It's amazing he thought of if as being such a distraction. He's now responded twice, once in 2008 with a non-legal copy of his "Certificate of Live Birth" and then again this past Wednesday April 29, 2011.  

You can view a better copy of President Obama's Birth Certificate, Courtesy of:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/04/27/president-obamas-long-form-birth-certificate

The question of racism arose from several fronts, from the media, from talk shows such as "The View" and then will be showcased on Monday May 2, 2011 on "Oprah" when he and First Lady Michelle Obama are the invited guests. I found racism to be alive in my own case at the Utah Department of Motor Vehicles Fairpark Office in Salt Lake with my confrontation with "JOYCE" the supervisor, covered in my NOTE/ENTRY: "UTAH DMV Evil or Good? You tell me...I'm Illegal...or not. I'm NAVAJO!"  I too realise racism does exist and must be constantly aware of it.  I was so upset with Joyce, I immediately called my friend Jim who with the aide of Utah Senator Gene Davis, and now former Utah State Division of Indian Affairs Director Forrest Cuch called Nannette Rolfe, Director, Utah Department of Public Safety Drivers License and discussed the insulting incident regarding my Utah Drivers License as a result of The Real ID ACT of 2005 authored by Wisconsin Senator James Sensenbrenner.  Through Nannette Rolfes office, Jill Laws had me fax my documentation, set up a new appointment for the following Thursday and I proceeded to obtain a six month temporary paper State of Utah issued Drivers License (not a plastic card).   

What struck me was how a supervisor would treat people so horribly and make them feel lower than dirt. On my second visit, Thursday, I made it known to all the workers who the offending supervisor was by pointing "Supervisor Joyce" out and stating: "The lady wearing the red shirt with the short hair is the person I talked to on Tuesday." They immediately took her aside and separated her from the rest of the employees.  What I hope happened is she was given a choice of sensitivity training. The Salt Lake City Fairpark DMV office caters to a minority population, mainly the Rose Park community, largely Hispanic.  The reason I made it my mission to take it to a higher level was because I was floored a supervisor could treat people so poorly, mostly those who would be indigent, minority, hispanic, and who would be used to this type of treatment. What a dis-service from a public servant, someone hired by the State of Utah to help, assist, provide superior customer service. The situation needed to be exposed. As you know by my Note/Entry "UTAH DMV Evil or Good? You tell me...I'm Illegal...or not. I'm NAVAJO!"  I did exactly that. I felt vindicated and hope that the Utah DMV is monitoring and will maintain a no-tolerance on discrimination to their minority population from that moment forward.

Getting back to Obama and his birth certificate. If this President had been of Anglo-Saxon, German, Swedish or any other "white-race", it is doubtful his legal presence would be questioned. What I want to interject here is, me being a minority, there have been instances in my life, including the Utah DMV incident, where being brown (Navajo) has not worked on my behalf. What I want to convey to you, is you have to look out for number one...the ME factor.  

No one else will. Some will pave the path, but you must make sure to tread it, or create one that others will follow.  It's not easy being the person who makes change. Change is scary. Change is unsure. Change happens whether you are the cause or not. Time, circumstance, everything changes. 

In my case, I was not willing to accept the one month extention Supervisor Joyce gave me as an ultimatum when I knew the law of The Real ID Act of 2005 and what my rights were. I had the upper hand through knowledge, wisdom and fortunately a good friend who had political connections to assist me in my time of need. Again it took SIX people, including myself, to schedule the second appointment. Sometime you have to realize within yourself that you must reach out to others who can help. It's amazing who stepped to the plate. I will forever be indebted to my friend Jim for the role he played in this incident. 

Another point I want to make: I don't care what color you are, I am, or who anyone is.  Sure physical beauty will create a first glance, but in the end what will trump anything are intellect, personality, and the beauty of the soul.

Talking about beauty, did you get to watch the Royal Wedding this morning?!? I accidentally fell asleep but watched it in a rebroadcast. Did you notice how similar Prince William looked like his mother Princess Diana?

Prince William, screen shot; Princess Diana, Peter Skingley/AP/pool

As an adopted child, a constant is not looking like, acting like, having the attributes of fellow adopted siblings and parents. Beside the fact that I needed to obtain a birth certificate, once I found my biological family in Ganado, Arizona back in 1985, there has always been that comforting feeling of not being alone.  Knowing there were others who had the same bloodline, features, quirky mannerism I possess. A completeness, the last piece of the puzzle. The same occurred when my cousin Matt came to visit Los Angeles last month

My cousin Matt,
Uncle Bob's son.

Even though he lives on the other side of the United States, when he was in my presense, there was a closeness, a bonding that felt, a relaxation from being guarded, a trustworthy feeling that people who are not adopted, those who live with their "natural" biological family unit take for granted. That is what I think adoptees constantly search for until they finally meet their natural relatives. Unfortunately for me, I will not be able to meet my brother Christopher, my mother Linda, but perhaps my biological father might be alive??? I have many other natural relatives who are alive. At some point I will meet them and be able to see myself in them. That will be the next phase I will concentrate on doing. 

That said, I have to make a living so, my goals are changing toward my professional life a bit more during this depression. YES, it is a Depression we live in. I was reminded of that by a lady over at the California Employment Development Department (EDD) downtown just yesterday. I  referred to the current state of our economy as a "recession" and she immediately said "THIS is not a Recession, THIS is a DEPRESSION". Yup.  Now back to the grindstone.

By the way, I am currently selling some items on Ebay, feel free to notice those postings on my Facebook Page wall:

"Adopted Native American Citizenship Affected by The REAL ID Act of 2005" 

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Los-Angeles-CA/Adopted-Native-American-Citizenship-Affected-by-The-REAL-ID-Act-of-2005/165349256848200

You may press the "DONATE" Button on my Blog: 

Adopted Native Americans/Real ID ACT

http://amiauscitizennavajo.blogspot.com/

AND....<lol> yup another way, I make my living is by selling window coverings, so feel free to order online at:

http://www.mynewblinds.com/  My New Blinds.  Use the coupon code "savela" for 5% off your purchase of $100 or more.

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Enjoy life and those you choose to surround yourself with.

Thank you for reading.