Rooted with Purpose and Ready to Soar

By Theresa Peters

Grounded by her ancestral roots, Chantil Dukart soars as a member of the Eagle Clan, and descendant of Cecil and Anna Barnes and the Tsimshian and Sugpiaq Indigenous Peoples of Alaska. Dukart is a jazz pianist, composer and singersongwriter rooted in her history but unafraid to reach new horizons with the inflection of pop, funk and jazz music.

Raised in the aftermath of the residential school forced assimilation of her grandparents, Dukart felt stripped of her cultural inheritance, but, never one to accept the status quo, this talented young artist is seeking to connect the past by acting as a bridge between those steeped in tradition and those who feel isolated by their Westernized upbringings. Now she aims to use her knowledge, talent and charisma to make a difference.

“One of the challenges of American multiculturalism is that the melting pot risks losing identity and connections with ancestors,” says Dukart. “My personal experience speaks to this, as I have always felt both deeply connected and cut off from my Indigenous roots. I want to inspire and connect with other Indigenous creatives who don’t necessarily fit into the stereotypical native artist paradigm.”

Dukart is an accomplished artist by many standards. She earned her BA in Music at the prestigious Frost School of Music at the University of Miami in Florida and has performed all over the world—from five-star hotels in the United States to an Australian cruise line, and at local venues in her hometown of Anchorage, Alaska. Her first album In the Beginning gained her

Runsolicited contact from five major record labels, and her most recent album release entitled Lady and the Champ (September 2022) has been highly acclaimed due to its polished blend of pop and jazz music.

Her easy-going nature and enjoyable personality make her an in-demand public figure and role model. Dukart has become a prominent community member as an on-air radio DJ at the premier radio station Jazz 93.5 in Colorado Springs, and the swell has propelled her music and public speaking career. Her personable character is instrumental in her quest to connect Indigenous creatives, creating a web of connections and mutual Indigenous understanding.

“There is not enough representation of Indigenous artists in the pop/ jazz/mainstream music narrative," says Dukart. "I strongly believe I can best serve my community by continuing to create pop/funk/jazz music that highlights the visibility of native artists who don’t fall into the traditional native art aesthetic.”

A highly-skilled entertainer and composer, Dukart is a powerhouse on and off the stage. Most of all, she is a credit to her ancestors and an integral support to Indigenous creatives all over North America. It is her time to soar.