Sarah's World of Dolls

Designs Of Native American Dolls

Few treasures of a culture are more ornate and heartfelt than Native American dolls.  Encompassing the history of countless generations, there are dozens of types of American Indian dolls that have both been uncovered in archeological excavations and are being hand crafted to this day.  From Inuit tribes that carve ivory or porcelain dolls to Navajo tribes who use stiff cornhusk fibers in their art.  Resembling children, adults, or the spirits of animals, any doll collection would be incomplete without these exquisite beauties.  Many can be found from websites promoting the cultural heritage, others may only be available at specific tribal manufacturers.

Dolls in Native American culture have different function and meaning than most Americans might think.  Although there are certainly plenty of figures used exclusively as children's toys, many are meant to replicate a certain symbol.  Kachina dolls, for example, are hand carved in the Hopi culture from solid wood.  Kachinas are not dolls in the strict sense of the word, more like figurines meant to inspire the beholder and act as representation of a god, allowing prayer or meditation in their presence.  A Kachina is beautifully painted from traditional dyes made of plants or sea creatures, melding vibrant red with deep blue, ornamented with bird feathers or turtle shells.  These Indian dolls are strictly meant for religious observances, not for a child's play.

Many cultures may not have a wealth of artistic resources and can only use what is available to them.  The Inuit tribes of far northern Canada and Alaska are experts in carving ivory from whales and walruses.  These Native American dolls most often represent the spirits of animals, especially those from which the carving material came from.  The sacred rites of hunting must include formal appeasing of spirits so that the balance of nature is held; by praying with such carvings before hunts, these natives ensure a harmony of the environment.

Likewise, plains Indians craft dolls in the shape of bison or bears as a means of proper respect to animal spirits.  For many of these dolls, their function is not in individual prayer but in group ceremonies; presented along with a drum and flute or used by an elder in retelling lore, Native American dolls from tribes like the Navajo may only be used once or twice in a year -- and as a result many of these are, obviously, not for sale to a curious audience.