In our upcoming book, Two Toms: Lessons from a Shoshone Doctor, coming from the University of Utah Press in Spring of 2011, I tell the story of my experiences living with a Shoshone doctor or religious healer.
A Shoshone doctor is formed by a transfer of sacred knowledge from an elder. it takes many years of experience to become an Indian doctor. The doctor I studied under was 83 years old when I spent nine months under his roof. He taught me that healing has a spiritual dimension not often found in our culture. It is a religious act. It asks that God bless and show favor to the person being healed.
As a leader in the Native American Church, the annual Sun Dance, and in sweat lodge meetings, the Shoshone doctor I lived with was was most like a therapist but the context was always spiritual. He was conscious of people's everyday problems and offered advice through prayers.
He didn't charge anything for his services.
-Tom
