Shoshone-Bannock author explores family, loss and identity in new memoir
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POCATELLO — Local author and Shoshone-Bannock tribal member Dr. Larry Murillo has released a new book that takes readers on a deeply personal journey through his family’s history, the heartbreak of losing loved ones and the life lessons he has gathered along the way.
His latest book, “Becoming Who I Am: A Native Memoir of Family, Loss, and the Experiences We Carry Forward,” reflects on his upbringing in Pocatello, his Native heritage and the experiences that shaped him as a son, brother, husband, father and grandfather.
At the heart of the memoir is a remarkable family story. Murillo’s parents, Ida and Florentino, endured the loss of six of their seven sons during their lifetimes.
As Murillo grew older, he began looking more closely at his family’s experiences, trying to understand how grief and loss affected each person differently.
Conversations with his parents revealed stories he had never heard, while guidance from Native Elders helped him see familiar experiences in a different light.
“I hope this memoir encourages people to look more closely at their own lives,” Murillo said. “Sometimes an experience that made little sense when it happened may carry meaning that becomes visible only many years later.”
A lifetime of memories and lessons
Murillo grew up in Pocatello, attending St. Anthony’s Catholic Grade School, Franklin Junior High School and Pocatello High School.
His mother, Ida, was Shoshone, while his father, Florentino, came to Pocatello from Mexico as a young child and later worked for the Union Pacific Railroad for more than 50 years.
His childhood memories include school, baseball, music and family gatherings, with strong ties to both Pocatello and Fort Hall.
One of his earliest memories dates back to when he was just 4 years old and survived being struck by a car in Pocatello.
While recovering at St. Anthony’s Hospital, the kindness of the hospital staff, along with the promise of ice cream, left him with an unusual childhood ambition: He wanted to live to be 100 years old.
That memory opens the memoir, which follows Murillo from his childhood through adulthood as he searches for meaning in the experiences that shaped his family.
Along the way, he shares lessons learned from Native Elders, including one woman who told him she had been declared clinically dead six times.
Her account encouraged Murillo to think more deeply about death, the circumstances surrounding it and the different ways people experience the loss of someone they love.
The book also explores how families continue to find joy, humor and purpose even while carrying profound grief.
Through his reflections, Murillo encourages readers to consider their own family histories and the stories that may remain untold.
Another chapter in his writing career
The memoir is Murillo’s latest book, following “Conversations with Elders,” “Inner Child Healing” and “I SEE A SOUL.”
Murillo said he is particularly excited about the release of his memoir and the continued success of “I SEE A SOUL.”
“’I SEE A SOUL’ is doing very well and continues to rank No. 1 or No. 2 in Amazon’s Indigenous Health & Healing eBooks category,” Murillo said. “In September, it held the No. 1 spot for about 15 days.”
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Beyond his writing, Murillo has spent more than 40 years working in public health with Native communities, including positions with the Indian Health Service, universities and tribal organizations.
He is the founder of Tribal Illumine LLC and earned degrees from Gonzaga University, Idaho State University and the University of California, Berkeley.
Although his latest memoir is rooted in his own family’s experiences, Murillo hopes its message will resonate with readers from all backgrounds, encouraging them to reflect on their relationships, memories and the experiences that have made them who they are today.
“Becoming Who I Am: A Native Memoir of Family, Loss, and the Experiences We Carry Forward” is available on Amazon in Kindle, paperback and hardcover editions.