Adapted from a USFWS interview with Alexa Martinex
(Hispanic Americans: A History of Serving our Nation)
Name: Melinda Alexa Martínez
Where you work and what you do:
Wildlife Biologist at Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, located in Princeton, OR.
Something you wish to share about your culture, upbringing, important traditions; etc.
Growing up from a Mexican background I always enjoyed the holidays and special celebrations since it was a time for everyone to get together, dance, play games and have some amazing food! Honestly, something about food to me is a way to express the heart of one’s culture and tie back an amazing story behind each dish.
We always had cooked certain dishes for different times of the year, which each dish had a special memory. Tamales were made during Thanksgiving and Christmas time. Biscochos (Mexican wedding cookies) were made during wedding celebrations and quinceñeras. Having a rosca de reyes pastry during the posadas around Christmas time and hoping when you cut through the pasty you don’t find the plastic baby Jesus or choke on it when you are eating. Champurrado (thick hot chocolate) was a drink we had during the winter too keep us warm during pecan harvest season. Capirotada (a type of bread pudding) was made during the time of lent. We always had menudo every Sunday with my grandma after church or my Dad’s soccer games. On my Mom’s side, who grew up more from ranching and farming background, we would have matanzas, where a pig is kill and every part of the pig is used for different dishes and shared with friends and family. These are just a few of many examples of how food and traditions are tied back to my Mexican heritage.
No longer living near the borderland of southern New Mexico, El Paso, TX and Cuidad Juárez, Mexico I am not heavily exposed to the Mexican culture. Nevertheless, making these dishes always reminds me of my roots, where I come from and whom I am. It is also nice to share some of these with my staff in FWS and share with them a piece of my culture.
How you found your way to FWS:
During the time as an undergraduate at New Mexico State University I was involve in an organization called Natural Resources Career Tracks program in the department of fish, wildlife and conservation. This program helped me get involved with many different agencies and provided me opportunities to build my career within natural resources. Through this program and my involvement with other organizations; such as, the NMSU Wildlife Society, American Fisheries Society, Range Society, Ecology Club and the Chicano programs, all these programs provided volunteer and connection opportunities with USFWS. From banding duck at Bosque del Apache NWR, recapturing Mexican grey wolves, or doing restoration work for Chiricahua leopard frog. I was very inspired by the work being done throughout the service. FWS has definitely been the agency I wanted to be a part of and I am very blessed to have the position I am currently in.
How you became interested in the work you do:
Throughout my life, I have always had a connection with natural resources. I grew up in an agricultural community and I expose to the outdoors and the different types of wildlife. I use to love jumping in the back of my grandpa’s pick up and go ride through the agricultural fields. While he would checked the fields and the crops I use to go out and play in the ditch and the irrigation canals to see what I can find. From jackrabbits, rattle snakes, kit foxes, coyotes, roadrunners, lizards, tortoises, owls, bats and many more. It was always nice to walk outside my back yard and explore around the Chihuahuan dessert.
As a family we would always be traveling during the summer to visit other family members throughout the US and Mexico. Travelling help open my eyes at a young age to see what other types of environments were out in the world other than my homeland. When we were not planning large road trips, I was fortunate to have my family take me to areas such as White Sands National Monument, Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Lincoln National Forest, and the Gila National Forest. I was so in awe with these places and the people who got to work there. I just knew this is what I needed to do!
Personal reflection about your job: (i.e. what’s most rewarding, challenging, exciting, etc)
The most rewarding part of my job is to watch the people enjoy themselves at the refuge. With the tragic occurrence that happened at Malheur NWR it is amazing to see how much this refuge really means to the public and to see and hear about their appreciation for the work done by refuge staff is very rewarding. During school group visits, I love when children tell me they want to be a biologist like me when they grow up and help protect habitat and wildlife. It just warms my heart. I honestly could not ask for any other reward.
I also enjoy being a part of the big picture in the work of conservation. Being able to work alongside partners and agencies to achieve the same mission is amazing!
Most exciting thing? Oh, where to begin? Every day can be exciting! One day I am flying in a fix-winged aircraft-counting waterfowl, trapping carp, doing outreach, becoming a drone pilot, and the next thing I know I am working during the night chasing ducks with an airboat for duck banding. I do have my slow days every now and then, but I enjoy my job very much.
I have only been with the service for a little under four years and I already have so many amazing memories. I can only imagine what the future holds for me as I continue my career within FWS.
Anything else you want to add: either personal or professional such as what you like to do in your leisure time, your favorite species to work with, interesting work experience, where you would like your career to lead you to, etc.
My career is still at its beginning, but I am definitely excited to see where I can grow and learn from all the different programs FWS has to offer and the places to explore. I have met so many different people within the service and they are all so special and play such a big role in the mission of the service. It is all so inspiring! I could not ask for a better agency to call home and my family.
You know, when my family came to the states from Mexico, they would work any job to help supply for their family. My parents have sacrificed and worked hard for my sisters and myself to make sure we have an education and get the opportunity to follow our dreams. I am the first from both sides of my family to graduate from college and land my dream job, and I could not have that opportunity without them. To that, I am forever grateful to parent because I would not be in the position I am today if it was not for them. I cannot thank them enough for what they have done for me, and I hope I am making them proud.
I also want to thank all the mentors I have whom all have played an important role in my life and have assisted me when times are hard. I hope someday to help inspire the new generation of Latinos who are striving a career within natural resources, just as my mentors have for me.
What does Hispanic Heritage month mean to me?
For me, Hispanic Heritage month is a time for all Hispanic people to be able to look back, recognize and see all the amazing work and influence their ancestors had in the United States. This month allows me to appreciate what my family has sacrificed and worked so hard for, which allowed me to live my American dream. It is a great reminder that I may have been born in this country, but I will never forget where I came from and how my culture has helped me become the person I am today. I am a U.S. citizen by paper, but I am a Mexican by blood. These two combinations is what makes me unique just like everyone else in this country.
