Danikah isn’t the loudest person in the room; she prefers to listen, yet she is confident in herself and values her voice. She seeks the nuances that people often overlook in the perpetual rush of the world: nonverbal communication, the individuals who go unnoticed in a group, and the unique gifts of every person. This perspective is her gift, and she shares her vision through her art. Art is the only thing that has always made sense to Danikah because the experience is understood emotionally, and there is no right or wrong way to feel. To be an artist is to be free. Danikah's desire for freedom inspires her to overcome sociological and psychological misconceptions that limit her in her life through long-term performance-based photographic projects. She uses her photography as a tool for self-liberation. 

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Danikah Morning Star Chartier (she/her) is a first-generation descendant of the Eskasoni Mi’kmaw Nation, born and raised in Gardiner, Maine. Chartier obtained a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Photography and Related Media from the Fashion Institute of Technology, where she minored in Art History, Fashion History Theory and Culture, and Film and Media Studies. Since January of 2024, Chartier has worked with the Colby College Museum of Art as a Gallery Educator, where she has designed, implemented, and taught a Wabanaki History and Culture tour to K-12 students and Decolonizing-Art workshops to Maine educators. Before joining Colby, Chartier worked with Historic New England as an Indigenous Community Liaison and Researcher to incorporate Indigenous perspectives of history into their tours, train staff on respect practices, and recommend next steps toward reparative justice and allyship with the First Peoples of Turtle Island. Danikah's desire to leave a meaningful impact on the world and cultivate self-growth, spiritual enlightenment, community connection, and generational healing is what inspires her in her life, career, and all artistic endeavors.