First Edition Native American Barbie, Mattel, Inc

Comparing Mattel’s mass-produced Native American Barbies with the hand-crafted dolls by Rhonda Holy Bear, it is clear which version accurately depicts Native American culture and traditions. However, Holy Bear’s dolls are not meant to be children’s toys. Affordable dolls that represent various cultures can be exciting when created in collaboration with people from those cultures. But American Indians, like any group, are not monolithic, and have varying opinions about their representation in popular culture.