As an educator, author, and activist, Alfonso Ortiz has written works greatly influenced by the stories and traditions of the various pueblos of New Mexico. Born in San Juan, a Tewa pueblo, Ortiz studied anthropology and developed a reputation as an authority on contemporary Native American problems and affairs.
Following teaching positions at Rutgers University, UCLA, and Princeton, Ortiz became a professor of anthropology at the University of Mexico. Ortiz held numerous political positions, such as president of the Association of American Indian Affairs. Additionally, Ortiz was a fellow of both the American Anthropological Association and the Royal Anthropology Institute. Ortiz's works include New Perspectives on Pueblos (1972) and American Indian Myths and Legends (1984), which he co-authored with Richard Erdoes.