In Simon Ortiz's essay, "The Language We Know" Ortiz wrote about his childhood as an Acoma Pueblo Indian during the 1950's. Ortiz wrote that through the
teachings from his parents and grandparents he did not forget his traditions and language. During that period in time Native American children were sent off to school to learn the English language and become "Americanized." Ortiz wrote, "it has occurred to me that I learned English simply because I was forced to, as so many other Indian
children were," (30). …
