8
MAY 15, 2016
S moke S ignals
Drake joins Tribal staf as GIS analyst
and technology-related
backgrounds.
“We’re taking tech-
Tribal member Alex
nology and using it for
Drake has a new home,
things that are import-
new job and new outlook
ant to us,” said Har-
on life.
relson. “We need to
Drake was hired in Feb-
indigenize technology,
ruary to be the Tribe’s
not let technology take
Geographic Information
us over. It’s the reason
System analyst.
why the irst project the
Drake graduated from
new GIS person is work-
Oregon Institute of Tech-
ing on is at the core of
nology in 2011 with a de-
importance to the Tribe,
gree in geomatics and has
which is our cemetery
been working at land sur-
and our people. That’s
veying for the past several
expertise that we now
years. He said he is happy
have on staff and that’s
to finally come home to
special.
work for the Tribe.
“We don’t have to look
Drake is the son of
outward to get help to
Lathen and Peggy Drake
do the things that are
and brother of Natural
important to us. We need
Resources Department
to look within and it’s
Silviculture and Fire Pro-
amazing the skill set that
tection Manager Colby
our Tribal membership
Drake. He also has twin
has today. We’re able to
sisters Megan and Marcy.
do a lot of these things
Drake said he gets his
ourselves and Alex is an
Native ancestry through
Photo by Michelle Alaimo
example of that.”
his mother, whose maiden
Tribal member Alex Drake is the Tribe’s new GIS analyst. His irst project was mapping the burial
Mell said it took him
name is Parazoo.
four
years to get the new
plots
at
the
Grand
Ronde
Cemetery,
including
specifying
where
veterans
are
buried.
Drake grew up in
position approved for his
Sutherlin and graduated
come back out to the Tribe and be
department.
high school there in 2004. He got his
of his work for Renaldo Land Sur-
productive for the Tribe and give
“It was a long process,” said Mell.
start in his ield when he enrolled
veying Inc. “I was running a line
back to the Tribe because they have
“The work I do was accumulating.
in the civil engineering program
through the trees and brush and
given me so much,” said Drake. “So
We needed a GIS analyst to help
at Umpqua Community College in
mountains. It was a lot of work.”
here I am giving back.”
with all of this and we inally got
Roseburg. Drake attended Umpqua
From St. Maries, Drake moved
Drake’s
irst
project
working
as
the position this year. He (Drake)
for four years, earned his two-year
back to Oregon and worked for AKS
a full-time GIS analyst has been
has a really good background in
degree and then moved to Klamath
Engineering and Forestry from
taking place on sacred ground.
surveying, which we will profit
Falls to attend OIT.
2013 until he got the job working
“So far, I’ve done the cemetery,”
from. He’s a fast learner.”
After graduating from college,
for the Tribe earlier this year.
said Drake. “I went out with a GPS
Drake said he is learning a lot
Drake moved to Idaho to work as a
Drake and his girlfriend Rachel
unit and identified the location
from Mell.
land surveyor and lived in the small
Steege just purchased a home in
of each gravesite in the data col-
“I love working with Mell. He’s
town of St. Maries on the south end
Willamina in which to raise their
lection.
I
put
their
names
on
the
awesome,”
said Drake. “I talked to
of Lake Coeur d’Alene.
3-year-old daughter Ava.
graves that were on the headstone
him back when I was living in St.
“I was running section lines for
“It was a great job but this was
and the day of their deaths and
Maries about a job. When some-
the timber company,” said Drake
an opportunity I wanted to take to
whether they were a veteran or
thing came up, he let me know. Mell
not. I just inished that this week.”
had a big hand in that. He’s great.
Drake’s work at the cemetery
He’s super sharp and he really
could take the knowledge of the
knows GIS. I feel like I can learn a
grounds to a new level.
lot from him and I already have.”
“I have made two different maps,”
Former Interim General Man-
said Drake. “One of the maps is of
ager Rick George oversaw the GIS
the locations of veterans’ graves
program for about six months and
and one with everybody. We hung
said the work the employees do
those down there in the front inside
is vital. George, who is currently
of a Plexiglas case with an Excel
the Tribe’s Planning Department
spreadsheet so you can look up the
director, said the work is not only
name and look up the location on
important but it is in need of in-
the map.”
creased acknowledgement.
Tribal Historic Preservation
“I think it is really important to
Department Manager David Har-
recognize that the GIS that this Tribe
relson said Drake’s current work
does is one of those not very well-
is continuing the work of GIS
known programs and projects that
Coordinator Volker Mell, who is
every sophisticated entity, whether
Drake’s supervisor and the person
it’s a corporate entity or a government
who recruited Drake.
entity, has to have to be a leader in
“It’s fitting when we get a new
today’s world,” said George.
staff person the irst thing that he
“So for the Confederated Tribes of
works on is one of the most import-
Grand Ronde to have that program
ant things we can work on and that
and now hire a new person, a Trib-
is taking care of our ancestors,” said
al member, to bring that program
Harrelson. “The work that Alex is
forward and take it to its next steps
doing with being able to map the
I think is a sign of wisdom and the
known names and then creating a
ability of the Tribe to be able to look
process by which people can submit
to the future and recognize how
names when they know somebody is
important GIS is.”
buried at a location is really import-
Drake said he’s ready for the fu-
ant for documenting our history.”
ture and that he feels good about
Harrelson said Drake is part of a
where he’s going.
Please contact Cristina Lara for more information
growing
group
of
young,
educated
“There have been some big life-
503.879.2040
Tribal members giving back to
style changes, but I think it is for
the Tribe and helping the Tribe
the best for sure,” said Drake. “I’m
through their technical expertise
glad to be out here.”
By Brent Merrill
Smoke Signals staff writer
Hello Community! We would like to
invite you all to the Canoe meetings set
for this year.
When: June 12
Who: Those people interested in
participating in Canoe Journey
Time: 12-3pm (Lunch is provided)
Where: Grand Ronde Tribal Gym