Lakota Doll

This doll was made for the museum by a Lakota grandmother after she read the book “Kirsten on the Trail” with her granddaughter and visited Gammelgarden where they learned that the museum’s buildings are the settings for the Kirsten Larson series of the American Girl dolls.

This doll is made in the Lakota tradition of tanned deer hide and buffalo hairs; and carries a gathering bag. She has no facial features to honor the Lakota tradition of not stealing another person’s spirit. The doll rests on a piece of birch bark.

In “Kirsten on the Trail,” Kirsten and her friend, Singing Bird, play together and become good friends despite not having a common language.