Sho-Bans in the Spotlight: Murillo publishes new book ‘I See A Soul’ telling stories & teachings of Native elders
Dr. Larry Murillo
By JOSEPH WADSWORTH
Sho-Ban News
FORT HALL — Dr. Larry Murillo, a retired health professional, writes books related to public health and culture.
He is the author of “I See a Soul,” a book about true stories and teachings from Native elders.
After working over 40 years alongside American Indian communities, “I worked up in Portland, Oregon for about three or four years, same with Tuba City.” Those he worked with helped him understand his personal loss in his own family and his writing grounds him in respect, cultural integrity and practical commitment to humanizing healthcare.
Murillo is the owner of Tribal Illumine LLC. His other books include, “Conversations with Elders” and “Inner Child Healing.”
“This book is about elders that talked to me, who I learned from, and I didn’t just meet them I would go to their gatherings and spend a lot of time with and travel around with them.” Murillo said.
“I See a Soul” is not a borrowed wellness language or outside theory — the book is really trying to capture the thoughts of those elders and the lives that they led. “Because illness has a way of teaching you and humbling you to learn about yourself.”
When people don’t pay attention to what’s happening in their life sometimes, they really will struggle with what’s happening to them. And so, the perspective this book brings is to help you understand what you’re going through, how to interpret it, and to remind you that if you ignore it, especially if it’s a chronic disease or something it only get worse.
Murillo met an elder in Palm Springs and she explained to him what happens when you die. She had been declared dead six times. He couldn’t believe it. “I’m just sitting there going, you know, how many times you’re going to meet some of that dies once, much less 6 times.”
What is unique about “I See a Soul” is that it talks about health from a life experience point of view. Murillo said it is not about biomedicine or about pharmaceuticals and not about diagnosis, treatment, it is a different approach to it.
Murillo said knowledge comes first and it’s easy to gather knowledge, but you can read something or talk to someone and just gather some knowledge. But wisdom is the application of knowledge, and that’s where it takes time. “You’re not just going to understand things after one day of learning about it and think you know everything. Because that’s what most people do actually. They are like coyotes they learn one little thing and damn, they’re off.”
Murillo’s book is for Native readers and those separated from tribal community; healthcare providers, clinician’s caregivers and families, but most of all this book is for anyone that wants to understand illness more humanely.
His education includes a PhD in Leadership and Behavioral Health, December 2004, University of California, Berkeley and MPH Major: Health Education, May 1988. Idaho State University MS Psychology, December 1982. Gonzaga University B.A. Major: Psychology, May 1979.
You can find Murillo’s “I See a Soul” at Donzia Gift shop as well as the Tribal Museum or you can contact him by email at larry.murillo5@gmail.com for an e-book and Amazon.com where his books are also available.
