Jimmy was born in San Francisco, CA on July 14, 1964.  He is the oldest of five children born to Evelyn and Jimmy (deceased). 

He grew up in Oakland, California but his early start began in South San Francisco living on Miller Avenue because his father worked as a machinist and living in South City was close to his employment.  At that time, he was about 3 or 4 years old and spent time playing at a park near their house with his sister, Cindy, who is one year younger than him.  Memories also of family visiting from Arizona.  Unfortunately, the house is no longer there, and it has been replaced by a parking lot. 

Both of Jimmy's parents are Navajo from the Navajo Reservation.  Jimmy's father, Jimmy is from Indian Wells, Arizona and he was the oldest of his siblings.  Jimmy's mother, Evelyn, is from Chinle, Arizona and is the 3rd oldest from over 10 siblings.

Soon after, the family left South City and moved to West Oakland, Acorn for a couple of years. There was a Native community of families in Acorn which was nice to be surrounded and supported by "family".  Here is where Jimmy attended Cole Elementary School for a short period. Unfortunately due to the violence, assaults, and break-ins, we eventually moved to East Oakland with some of the Native families that we bonded with in West Oakland and they became our neighbors.

During this time, our father Jimmy, passed away in 1974 due to liver cirrhosis due to alcoholism, leaving Evelyn as a single parent.  Our lives were not rich with materialist items but rich with family and spending time together.  Our mother ended up getting employment and assistance with The Friendship House Association of American Indians.   There she found a community.  Jimmy attended a private Christian school in Alameda along with his siblings and other community native  school aged children.  He attended until 8th grade and ended up leaving to attend the Oakland Art School for Junior High.  Unfortunately, Jimmy never graduated from high school. 

Jimmy unfortunately did drink during his teen years and often drank excessively to black outs.  There were incidents of juvenile crimes and he spent time in a juvenile detention facility in Oakland. 

Jimmy did gain employment at Manning Blue Cross cafeteria in downtown Oakland when he was arrested. He was just starting his work career in the food industry. 

We as a family are very close and have always tried to support each other.  Jimmy also has additional two sisters living in South Dakota from our dad whom he has never met. 

Today, we send money, cards, and letters to him.  His incarceration has made our family stronger but has taken a toll on our mother who has only been able to hug him a few times over the last past 4 decades.

He has missed SO much of life.  All the missed family get togethers, birthday celebrations, graduations, births, deaths. Jimmy always calls and sends out birthdays, holiday and valentine cards marking events in our lives. We also always try to include him in these life events with photos, letters, and phone calls. 

Inside, Jimmy serves as fire keeper for sweat, and tries to look after the other Native inmates he has known throughout his years, some of whom have since been released and work to support him from the outside.

Humans are not perfect, and we all make mistakes which we "pay for", but this is an absolute travesty.   He has been incarcerated since he was 17 and will be 60 in 2024. He is now showing signs of Alzheimers.  His mother is now 84 and waits for his return home. He has lost decades of life he should have been able to live with us.

What will it take to get him released? How much longer must he pay?