Elliott was born in the United States and moved with her family to the Six Nations of the Grand River reserve in Ontario when she was 13.
[1] Although located in southern Ontario close to major cities, her home, like many others on the reserve, didn't have running water.
[2] Elliott's essay, "A Mind Spread Out On The Ground", went on to win a National Magazine Award, a prize that Elliot credits with kickstarting her career.
[2][3] The next year, Elliott was selected by Tanya Talaga to receive the RBC Taylor Emerging Writer Award, which includes a cash prize and a mentorship component.
[6] In addition to her essays, Elliott has written for newspapers and magazines including The Globe and Mail, Maclean's, Maisonneuve, Today's Parent and Reader's Digest.