Performer
Elijah Wells
Performer
Why They Matter
Wells represents a contemporary model of Indigenous artistic practice in which creation, performance, design, and direction are inseparable. His work with Wild Mint Arts demonstrates how powwow dance, hoop dance, and other Indigenous movement traditions can be woven into theatre formats that reach…
Known For
Biography
Elijah Wells is a Kainai artist and co-founder and co-director of Wild Mint Arts. He holds a BFA in Visual Studies from the University of Calgary and works across performance, visual art, lighting design, set design, and regalia creation. Wells co-created *Nimihitowin!* with Jessica McMann, a dance-theatre program that brings together powwow dance, hoop dance, and Métis jigging for young and general audiences. The work has toured since 2018 and was scheduled for six performances at the Vancouver Children's Festival in 2026. With J. Virginia Sparvier-Wells, Wells co-created *They Carry Us*, a First Nations dance-theatre work rooted in Blackfoot cosmologies that combines contemporary and powwow dance. His practice spans creation, direction, performance, and the full visual design of Indigenous dance-theatre works, positioning him as an artist who integrates multiple creative disciplines in service of Indigenous storytelling and performance.
Legacy & Impact
Wells represents a contemporary model of Indigenous artistic practice in which creation, performance, design, and direction are inseparable. His work with Wild Mint Arts demonstrates how powwow dance, hoop dance, and other Indigenous movement traditions can be woven into theatre formats that reach both young audiences and the general public without separating the cultural form from its artistic context. For dancers and creators, Wells's integrated approach—combining choreography with visual design and production—offers a framework for Indigenous artists working across disciplines.
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