Medicine and Miracles in the High Desert

My Life Among the Navajo People

By: Erica M. Elliott

Narrated by: Erica Elliott

After her first week teaching at a boarding school on the Navajo Reservation near Canyon de Chelly, young Erica Elliott almost leaves in despair, unable to communicate with the children or understand cultural cues. But once she starts learning the Navajo language, the people begin to trust her, taking her into their homes and ceremonies. As she is drawn deeper into Navajo life, Erica has a series of profound experiences with the people, animals, and spirits of Canyon de Chelly. Fulfilling a Navajo grandmother’s prophecy, she returns years later as a medical doctor to offer her services to Navajo patients.

Endorsements

"Dr. Erica Elliott’s account of her life among the Navajo people is a story of high adventure that surpasses the wildest fiction. Elliott’s willingness to transcend her cultural conditioning and enter another complex society is an act of great courage, and reveals her boundless empathy and compassion. This book is sorely needed at this moment in America, when divisive voices incessantly warn us of the other, the foreigner, those who ‘are not like us.’ [Medicine and Miracles in the High Desert: My Life Among the Navajo People] reveals how diversity, inclusiveness, and tolerance can enrich our own society, which is a lesson on which our future may depend." (Larry Dossey, MD, author of One Mind: How Our Individual Mind Is Part of a Greater Consciousness and Why It Matters)

"What a wonderful book! Elliott’s voice mesmerized me. For weeks after, I thought about her time with the Navajos. Such an inspiring, life-affirming, yet tough tale, woven through with a strong drive to realize one’s life path. Beautifully written. Elliott is an exciting new voice." (Natalie Goldberg, author of Writing Down the Bones and Let the Whole Thundering World Come Home)

"Erica Elliott writes fearlessly with an original voice that grabbed me from the first page. Her true adventures on the Navajo Nation as a teacher, a shepherd, an emergency room doctor, and best of all, an open-hearted student immersed in a spiritually rich culture, make a great story. She leaves the reader with something to ponder: The abiding importance of reaching out to others with joy and respect. I love this book." (Anne Hillerman, NY Times best-selling author of the Leaphorn/Chee/Manuelito mystery series)

"This is a powerful and personal book that is about courage and compassion. Reading it, one is drawn into the web of Dr. Elliott’s extraordinary life of service and learning with the Navajo of the American Southwest. We are fortunate to be able to accompany her on her remarkable journey." (Rev. Joan Jiko Halifax, Abbot, Upaya Zen Center, Santa Fe, New Mexico, www.upaya.org)

©2019 Erica Elliott (P)2019 Balboa Press

Amazing story!

After finding out I have Navaho in my blood line, I wanted to connect to my ancestral history so I started my journey with your lovely book. Thank you Erica for giving me a beautiful understanding of the Navaho people. You are a gift!!!!

A fascinating story

Totally loved this story. I can picture this experience. A peak into Navaho life. Ericas life is fascinating.

What a great read. Erica is a great story teller with amazing life stories to tell.

My husband and I listened to the book while driving through some of the areas Erica speaks of. Added even more meaning as we imagined experiencing some of things she did.

I recommended the book to many. One of my friends’ book club read it for their monthly group and raved about how kind opening it is.

This is a wonderful memoir

I have not enjoyed a book so much in quite some time. Living in NM and having loved all that our area is, it is wonderful to hear, in Erica’s voice, her journey into the Dine and so much more. She is truly blessed and I am grateful she wrote this. Thank you Erica.

Inspirational Memoir Set in the Navajo Nation

The audiobook Medicine and Miracles in the High Desert, narrated by the author Erica Elliott, tells the story of living with the Navajo people, first as a young teacher, then as a shepherd, and later as a medical doctor. This is full of adventure and insight – heart-warming, personal, surprising, thoroughly engaging.

The book opens with a glimpse of Dr Erica’s first day working as a physician, in 1986 at the understaffed Cuba Health Center, unexpectedly on call handling emergencies all night – the gruesome death of a medicine man, a pregnant Navajo woman undergoing seizures, a Hispanic woman giving birth... and then seeing patients all day. The question arose: how did she know how to speak Navajo? Dr Erica explained that years before she had been a school teacher at Canyon de Chelly. From there, the story goes back to Fall 1971, when Erica started teaching, learning about the language and culture, gaining trust and respect of her students and their parents, surviving an encounter with a mountain lion, interpreted as visit by a spirit animals, being invited into homes and ceremonies, including traditional peyote and puberty ceremonies, being witness to a brutal rape, learning to weave, and growing to love the Diné (the ancestral name for the Navajo people). After two years as a teacher, during the summer of 1973 Erica chose to live the life of a shepherd, tending a large herd of sheep on horseback, accepted by the Tome family, living the Diné way.

After some time back with her family New England, Erica spent two and a half years, 1974-76, in South America, in the Peace Corps, living with Quechua people in Ecuador, compiling a book of Quechua stories, starting a Quechua dictionary, learning to climb mountains, falling in love, and then traveling throughout South America. Back in the States, Erica taught Mountaineering for Outward Bound, entered a Masters program in education, and then went on to complete medical school. Dr Erica returned to the Navajo reservation as a physician In a “medically underserved area” in exchange for forgiveness of her student loan. The story of her life enters a new phase of life back with the Diné, and a parting healing ceremony for peace and happiness, after which she became pregnant, purchased land outside of Santa Fe, began building a home, and got married.

I listened to the book in a single sitting, while on a road trip from New Mexico to California, glad for this story of connection to land, culture, and life meaning. Captivating! This is the first of a series of memoirs by Dr Erica Elliot. In her own words "The grandmother of one of my Navajo friends told me that the mountain lion was my spirit guide and had come to give me 'his courage, strength, and intense focus,' because I would need those for what lay ahead. She said that I would face many obstacles, some big and life-threatening, and if I lived through them, I would have 'a strong heart and powerful medicine to give to the people.'” I especially appreciate the personal touch of hearing the story in the author’s own voice. I await the screenplay. Highly recommended!

The essence of Medicine!

This extraordinary book is, in my vision, about the essence of the invisible healing power of medicine. At least what medicine should be. Erica takes us in epic journey where she courageously shares her inside and outside experiences of being.
Erica Elliott drives us through a path that doesn’t looks like she is saying anything about medicine... she is saying everything about it!
I intended to just take a brief look and leave it on hold, as I have many books to read before this one... no way I could stop!
The book is also about the beauty of life, the beauty itself, no matter the struggles you are facing.
It remembered me some wisdom from Joseph Campbell.
The main gift of this book is that is narrated by the author. You feel much more beyond the words.
I’m looking forward to read the next.

Amazing stories

Thank you, Erica! I am so grateful that you shared these stories of your amazing experiences. I listened to "Medicine and Miracles" while on a road trip exploring New Mexico and Utah, including the Chinle area, and Chaco Canyon, among other areas in beautiful Navajo country. Your stories truly enriched my experiences and understanding. I am so impressed by your adventures, your achievements, and your courageous path to find your purpose in life. I look forward to reading your next books. Thank you!

*Note to those who want a professional narrator: How well could any other narrator correctly speak Navajo? So much would be lost, I think it could be a disaster and disrespectful. With Erica reading her own book, we get the most authentic telling. I personally prefer when authors read their own books. Bad pronunciation drives me crazy, and I feel more connection. I cannot imagine anything more appropriate than Erica telling us her incredible stories directly.

Interesting----- Wonderful Depiction!

I truly enjoyed this autobiographical life story of Erica Elliott and the Navajo people. From her early days as their school teacher to eventually becoming their medical life line and much more. How she assimilated her life into their beliefs and life style. Her willingness to totally immerse herself was absolutely enjoyable to me. I thought myself very fortunate to be able to be taken along on her amazing life story.
I was given this free copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

A powerful, inspiring memoir

There is nothing to dislike about this book. Listening to Erica share her story of immersion in Navajo life is a precious gift.

Wonderful & accurate portrayal of Navajo culture!

I loved everything about this book! Although this is autobiographical, it reads like a novel. Very enjoyable. And narrated perfectly by the author, which always lends more authenticity to an audio book. This author clearly demonstrates accurate knowledge of this culture, and a pure respect and love for the Navajo people she meets. She opens herself up to becoming part of this culture and is welcomed by many people she meets and is accepted into their lives because of her obvious respect for the Navajo people and her willingness to learn the language and culture.
At one point she even works as a shepherd with a traditional family, to further embrace and understand their culture and way of life. I learned a great deal about Navajo life and culture from my aunt who founded a school in St. Michael's, Arizona. I did a month-long internship in the early 70s at the school, and have many pleasant memories of visiting Canyon De Chelly, as well as other landmarks mentioned by the author. This book has helped me to relive some of those memories and has kindled my desire to return. I am so appreciative of this author's sincere, authentic account of her experiences. Too many authors will use a culture or people as a part of their books without adequately researching the culture. I am looking forward to future books from this author, which she has mentioned are coming!