Simon J. Ortiz, 1941-present

Simon Ortiz is a contemporary Native American writer who continues to be a strong voice in literature today. His many writing accomplishments include creating poems, short stories, essays, and children’s books. Biographer A. Walton Litz recounts that as a child, Ortiz would listen closely to adults telling traditional stories and gossip and through this fascination with stories was given the nickname of  “the reporter” by his father (American Writers, 500). This interest in culture and history fueled his passion for writing. Having grown up in the Acoma Pueblo community in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Ortiz experienced the hardships of Native American and English cultures colliding from a very early age. According to biographer A. Walton Litz, “at most of the Bureau of Indian Affairs and mission schools, the children were punished by a sharp crack on the knuckles if they were caught speaking their native language” (American Writers, 501). As a result, he found literature to be a way to express his frustration and passionate beliefs. This medium provided a way to embrace his Acoma culture while sharing it with others. According to an article by A. Walton Litz in the American Writers Supplement series, Ortiz is unlike most Native American contemporary writers in that he is full blooded Native American and his first language was his native tongue of Keresan (500). By learning English, he found a way to communicate with those outside of his immediate culture. His writing was first supported by teaching at several institutions such as the University of New Mexico and the University of Iowa. A. Walton Litz tells of how Ortiz entered writing in the 1960’s when equal rights and social justice were at the roots of everyday life (American Writers, 497). This timing proved fruitful because it provided a foundation of readers that wanted to “fix” our nation, both environmentally and socially. Simon Ortiz’s writing is a success because it describes events in everyday life. Readers can relate to his works because they reveal that, by introspection and experiences, anyone can learn from past experiences and gain personal growth. He writes about everyday life and how our industrial culture has effected environment and society. These issues not only affect Native Americans, but all Americans, all people. Biographer Kathy Whitson suggests that “Ortiz has used the language of the colonizers to fight against oppression” (Native American Literature, 178). In this way, his works provide a reader with the sense of self-respect that they need in order to to stand up for their rights and preserve their way of life. 

A theme of traveling emerges in Ortiz’s work. In the Norton Anthology of American Literature, Nina Baym, suggests that this theme symbolizes the struggles of Native American tribes moving across the country in earlier times (2788). This idea further develops into a theme of displacement and alienation. Henry L. Wilson states that it shows how an individual that moves, whether by choice or circumstance, experiences “separation from the land, from family, and historical roots” (Encyclopedia of American Literature 858). Ortiz experienced his own separation during military service which forced his own movement across the country. Henry L. Wilson continues by suggesting that the theme of alienation and separation can be seen in the short story “Kaiser and the War” in Ortiz’s book called Fightin’ (Encyclopedia of American Literature 858). The story tells of a man who spoke little English and resisted being drafted into the American army. When the county sheriff and draft board agents came to get Kaiser, he fled to the Black Mesa mountains. After many years, Kaiser turned himself in and was sent to prison for avoiding the draft. Henry L. Wilson also suggests that “the ultimate result of this clash of cultures is that Kaiser is unable to function in either the Native American or the white culture; after his long-delayed release from prison” (Encyclopedia of American Literature 858). At the end of the story, Kaiser returns to the mountains wearing the old gray suit the government issued him. This struggle alienated Kaiser from both worlds, therefore, he lived alone until his death. This is story particularly important because it contains some biographical elements from Ortiz’s own life, such as the hardships he suffered as a child because of his limited English and his military service. The story seems to connect the past and the present with respect to the feelings of separation and alienation. 

Another theme that arises from Ortiz’s work is that America is no longer one with the earth or the spirits of nature. People have lost their connection with God and self by developing every available space of land. For example, in “The Wisconsin Horse,” Ortiz tells of a frightened horse who can not break free either physically or spiritually. The vivid image of a horse “across the road” that “stands within a fence, silent in the hot afternoon” sees that “a mile north is some construction. That’s America building something.” (Woven Stone 93) This symbolizes Ortiz's feeling that people are constrained by the world around them. Ortiz writes about wondering “if the horse still stands silent in the dark night, dreamless and stifled, having no resources left except to hope his silence will soon go away and the meaningfulness enter.” (Woven Stone 94) Ortiz’s writing expresses a desire for people to return to their roots through family, culture, and spirit. Current society tears an individual away from the spirit of the land to areas filled with shopping malls and parking lots. Ortiz reminds us all that spiritual well-being, not material wealth, is the heart of us all and needs to be preserved. 

Simon Ortiz uses imagery extensively throughout his work. He paints vivid pictures with words to make a point. This imagery is used to illustrate passionate feelings. Henry L. Wilson points out that Ortiz “often focuses on distinctive Western landscapes” (Encyclopedia of American Literature, 858). An example provided by Henry L. Wilson comes from Oritz's poem “The Boy and Coyote.” Ortiz writes about a boy standing on a riverbank seeing “the rippled sand rifts” and  the boy hears “reports of a shotgun, muffled flat by saltcedar thickets. Everything halts for several moments, no sound; even the wind holds to itself” (Woven Stone, 124-125). This image holds a deeper significance than the eyes can behold. Ortiz wants a reader to see and feel what it is like to be free, both physically and spiritually, on undamaged land. He wants a reader to feel the stillness and heightened sense of awareness at that moment. This type of imagery gives the words life, enabling a reader to see a picture in their mind and feel the emotions of the particular situation. Because of the emotional nature of his work, Simon Ortiz will continue to reach many readers. American society is always dealing with issues and struggling with change. In a conflicted world, Ortiz’s work might provide a reader with a temporary escape from chaos or hope in dealing with it. 

Bibliography

A relatively timely secondary source, this subject encyclopedia provides an extensive discussion of Ortiz's life, work, and career. This source provides a researcher with insights to Ortiz's childhood, education, and intreparation of his works. A. Walton Litz aims to point out that Simon Oritz is a modern writer who draws from past experiences to shape his work. By referencing selected works and discussing Ortiz's childhood, A. Walton Litz's article shows how Simon J. Ortiz's life has developed his writings.

A fairly recent source which contains a letter of introduction from Simon Ortiz, as well as a collection of his poems. This book has a personal touch because Ortiz begins the by telling readers important events of his life. Ortiz traces the path of his life from birth to the time of the book's publication, 1992. This timeline gives some insight into how Oritiz incorporates outside influences,  language, culture, and life experience, to give meaning to his works. By reading the introduction and poems together, a reader can discover the man and how he used his struggles in life in a positive way, by developing writings to share with others.

Related Internet Sites

• Native American Author Project: Simon J. Ortiz
• Native American Authors: Browsing by Book Title
• Native American Books, Review
• Native Americans: Index by Authors 

Major Works

• Naked in the Wind
• Going for the Rain
• A Good Journey
• Howbah Indians
• From Sand Creek
• Fightin'
• Woven Stone

Careers

• Military Service
• Public relations worker
• National Indian Youth Council
• Newspaper editor
• College instructor
• Arts coordinator
• Poet
• Writer

Family

• Father: Joe Ortiz, Stonemason 
• Mother: Mamie Torimio Ortiz, Potter 
• Siblings: Eight brothers and sisters
• Wife: Marlene Foster (divorced)
• Children: Raho, Rainy, Sara 

Homes

• Albuquerque, New Mexico
• Rough Rock, Arizona
• San Diego, California
• Mission, South Dakota
• Portland, Orgegon

Awards/Honors

• National Endowment for the Arts Discovery Award, 1969 
• White House Salute to Poetry Honored Poet, 1981 
• New Mexico Humanities Council 
• Humanitarian Award, 1989 

Chronology