Female doll with black blouse and pink collar and cuffs, serrated hem, concho belt, blue and white bead necklace, red pleated skirt with white and black floral pattern, white and red footwear, thread stitched eyes and mouth, cloth formed nose, and brown wool hair.

Dolls were typically made for children to play with and were made to resemble humans, including tribal clothing and designs. Through play, the dolls “were used to communicate tribal values, practices, and customs” (Cotherman 2007, 24). Children learned how to prepare food, hunt, care for children, and make clothing by imitating adult behaviors in play. The clothing the dolls wore reflected the designs and patterns of that tribe or family tradition and often resembled human clothing the maker would create (Cotherman 2007).