WASHINGTON — Prominent Native American and women's rights activist Wilma Mankiller is being honored with her own Barbie.
The doll is the latest addition in Mattel's "Barbie Inspiring Women" series, which features figures representing famous pioneering women throughout history.
Mankiller was the first female Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1998 for her advocacy work supporting Native Americans, women and children.
Her doll, which launched in stores and online Monday, is modeled after an iconic photograph taken by her former husband, Charlie Soap, in 2005. The Barbie doll carries a woven basket and is styled in a turquoise cloth dress with ribbon striping that represents north, south, east and west.
Mattel said in a statement that they worked closely with Mankiller's family and friends to create a doll that accurately reflects and represents her.
“When Native girls see it, they can achieve it, and Wilma Mankiller has shown countless young women to be fearless and speak up for Indigenous and Human rights," Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. said in a statement. "She not only served in a role dominated by men during a time that tribal nations were suppressed, but she led."
In addition to commemorating Mankiller with a Barbie doll, Mattel announced it will contribute $25,000 to the American Indian Resources Center. The donation aims to support efforts dedicated to empowering indigenous women and girls as well as fostering cultural preservation, according to a press release.
The doll's launch aligns with Native American Heritage Month, which is observed every November, and comes days before Mankiller's birthday on Nov. 18.
As principal chief, Mankiller focused on improving education, healthcare and housing services. During her 10 year tenure, infant mortality declined, and educational achievements in the Cherokee Nation increased, according to Mattel.
Mankiller, who was also social justice advocate, died in 2010 at age 64.
