Wilma Mankiller, Leader of the Cherokee Nation, is Honored With a Barbie

She follows the release of Celia Cruz, Anna May Wong, and Bessie Coleman dolls.

Fact checked by Sarah Scott

Barbie Summer has become Barbie Fall, as the iconic brand recognizes Wilma Mankiller as the newest addition to the Inspiring Women series. In honor of Mankiller’s birthday on November 18, Barbie collaborated closely with Wilma's family and friends on the doll's creation.

Designed from an iconic photograph of Wilma taken by her husband Charlie Soap in 2005, the Wilma Mankiller Barbie doll holds a woven basket and wears a richly pigmented turquoise dress with ribbon striping that represents the four directions: north, south, east, and west.

“I am thrilled to see Wilma Mankiller as Barbie. Growing up in the 80’s my sisters and I were passionate about playing with Barbies and I could never have imagined that one day I could see Principal Chief Wilma Mankiller as Barbie,” says Colleen Echohawk, organizer and CEO of the Native-owned Eighth Generation.

“Principal Chief Mankiller is a role model and icon for ALL women and girls who believe that we can achieve greatness by seeing the humanity in every individual and opening the doors of opportunity,.” Echohawk reflects to Parents.

Criticism Amid Praise

Despite the praise it has received and the progress the release of the Wilma Mankiller Barbie symbolizes, there has also been some criticism.

The Associated Press reports about an issue on the doll's packaging. The AP cites a Cherokee woman who says there is a symbol on the box that translates to "chicken" rather than "Cherokee." The two symbols, however, do look similar.

Parents reached out to Mattel for a comment about the packaging. "Throughout the process of bringing this doll to life, Barbie worked directly with Wilma Mankiller’s estate, which is led by her husband Charlie Soap, and good friend Kristina Kiehl, to best preserve and celebrate her legacy," a company spokesperson says.

The Associated Press quotes another Mattel spokesperson who says they are aware of the imagery on the packaging and are "discussing options."

Who Was Wilma Mankiller?

Wilma Mankiller (ᎠᏍᎦᏯᏗᎯ) was the first female Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation, a sovereign tribal government and the largest tribe in the United States, located in what is now the city of Tahlequah, Oklahoma. Born in 1945, Mankiller’s family was dislocated to California when she was just 11, through the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ relocation policy of the time. The move left a lifelong imprint, as it was for her family reminiscent of the forced removal of Cherokees from Tennessee over the Trail of Tears in the 1830s.

Yet it would be California where Mankiller found her footing, within the long and rich history of Indigenous resistance. There, she witnessed the 1969 occupation of Alcatraz by the protest group Indians of All Tribes (AIT). The call for federal land to be returned to the Indigenous peoples who originally occupied it changed her irreversibly. Her social justice work began with empowering local Native communities, serving as the director of Oakland’s Native American Youth Center.

Mankiller’s activism continued and eventually, she returned home to Oklahoma with her daughters in 1977. There, she focused on building community coalitions and improving access to water and housing for the Cherokee Nation. Her leadership and belief in collective community work during this time led to the feature film, The Cherokee Word for Water. Producer of the film and close friend, Kristina Kiehl, says “Wilma’s impact on women’s rights and her strength to break down barriers continue to be an inspiration for women and girls in Native communities throughout our world."

Mankiller was elected to serve as the Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation in 1985. The first woman to be elected chief of a major American Indian tribe, she led her nation for 10 years. During her leadership, she advocated for education, healthcare, and housing services, and continued to be a national voice for justice for the Cherokee Nation.

According to the National Women's History Museum, Mankiller said, “Every step I take forward is on a path paved by strong Indian women before me.” In recognition of her extraordinary contributions, she was awarded the prestigious Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1998. Passing in 2010, she left behind a lasting legacy for future generations of both Native and non-Native communities.

Wilma Mankiller as an Inspiring Woman

Barbie debuted the Inspiring Women Series in 2018, a line paying tribute to “incredible heroines of their time; courageous women who took risks, changed rules, and paved the way for generations of girls to dream bigger than ever before.” The Mankiller doll follows this year's release of Celia Cruz, Anna May Wong, and Bessie Coleman dolls.

“Wilma always brought others to the table with her and she would be very happy that Mattel is including other Indigenous dolls,” says Kiehl. “Barbie celebrating her legacy with the Wilma Mankiller Inspiring Women doll continues to share her story with so many others for years to come.”

That it will. Echohawk recently bought Barbies for when her niece and nephew visit. She looks forward to buying them the Wilma Mankiller Barbie. As they play she adds, "They can imagine themselves doing great things: serving their Tribal communities, offering leadership, and shaping the future.” 

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