Eldon Yellowhorn is Piikani. He was born and raised on the Peigan Reserve (now known as the Piikani First Nation) in Alberta, and grew up speaking Blackfoot and English. He holds undergraduate degrees in geography and archaeology, an MA in archaeology from Simon Fraser University and a PhD in anthropology from McGill University. A faculty member at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, he teaches archaeology and First Nations studies. His published works have appeared in such journals as the Canadian Journal of Archaeology, Native Studies Review and Plains Anthropologist.