Karen Whipple is a leading basket weaver in Round Valley. Her tribal affiliations are Wylacki and Nomalacki. She knows local basket weaving techniques and design, and knows where to harvest plants, how to cure, age and process the plants for weaving different kinds of baskets.

She specializes in making coil baskets from willow, redbud and sedgeroot. She makes baby Pomo baskets, miniature baskets for earrings or decorations.

Karen’s baskets are made with fine even weaving and well-rounded shape.

She is an inspiration and teacher to the basket weavers of Round Valley. She is part of the Round Valley Tribal Basket Weavers, who meet to learn and work on Sunday evenings, 6:00 to 8:00 at the Buffalo Room in the Tribal Office Building north of Covelo on Highway 162.