Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Simon J. Ortiz’s "Hihdruutsi, In the Way of My Own Language That Is My Name" is a declaration of identity, deeply rooted in ancestry, language, and place. The poem asserts the speaker’s belonging, both to the Aacqu (Acoma) people and to a specific way of being in the world—one that cannot be altered, erased, or redefined by outside forces. Ortiz employs repetition, direct address, and a steady, rhythmic tone to emphasize the significance of name, recognition, and cultural continuity.

The poem opens with a fundamental statement of identity: "I am of the Eagle People. Aacqu is my home. I am of the Acoma people." These lines establish the speaker’s lineage and origin, immediately grounding the poem in both personal and collective history. The repetition of "I am" asserts an unshakable truth—this is not an identity that is adopted or assigned but one that is intrinsic, inborn. The eagle, a powerful symbol in many Indigenous traditions, conveys strength, vision, and spiritual guidance, reinforcing the speaker’s deep connection to heritage.

The following line, "That is the way therefore I regard myself." places identity not just in ancestry but in self-perception. This is crucial—Ortiz suggests that identity is not solely something given but something actively recognized and upheld. The speaker affirms that he "cannot be any other way or person," rejecting any imposed identity or assimilation. This assertion is directed outward in the command: "You must learn this well." The phrase is both an instruction and a warning—it insists on recognition and understanding from others, a refusal to be misnamed, miscategorized, or misunderstood.

Ortiz extends this recognition beyond static existence into movement, reinforcing that identity is carried across distances: "When you see me somewhere to the north, west, south, east, that is the way you will recognize me." The invocation of the four cardinal directions suggests a presence that is not confined to one place but remains constant wherever the speaker goes. This resonates with the experience of many Indigenous peoples whose identities remain intact despite displacement, travel, or historical disruptions.

The poem then introduces a moment of imagined interaction: "You will say: Why that is Hihdruutsi! I wonder where he has been traveling at? I wonder if he has been well?" This conversational element makes identity relational—it is not just something one claims but something acknowledged by others. The speaker’s name, Hihdruutsi, functions as both a personal marker and a cultural signifier, carrying within it history, place, and kinship. The phrase "I wonder where he has been traveling at?" reflects a worldview in which movement does not sever identity but instead reinforces it. Travel does not make one unrecognizable; it prompts curiosity and connection.

The final repetition—"Yes, that is the way then you will recognize me."—seals the poem with certainty. The speaker asserts that recognition is not a passive act but an obligation, a mutual agreement between self and community. The poem refuses erasure, insists on continuity, and affirms that true identity is not just about where one is but about who one remains, always.

Ortiz’s use of simple yet deliberate language gives the poem a declarative power, ensuring that the speaker’s identity is not merely stated but reaffirmed with each line. The rhythm of repetition mimics the patterns of oral tradition, where stories, names, and histories are preserved through spoken affirmation. The title itself—"Hihdruutsi, In the Way of My Own Language That Is My Name"—reinforces the idea that naming is inseparable from language, culture, and belonging.

"Hihdruutsi" is ultimately a poem of self-definition, a refusal to be misnamed or forgotten. It is both a personal statement and a broader declaration of Indigenous identity, resisting the forces that seek to obscure or redefine it. The speaker exists in multiple places, across time and geography, but remains the same—always recognizable, always belonging, always Hihdruutsi.

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