Wilda Wahpepah is an attorney in the Indian and Gaming practice group. She represents tribal governments, tribal businesses and entities doing business with tribes across the country. Her areas of emphasis include regulatory counseling and advice related to tribal jurisdiction and governmental matters, gaming, financing and business development, natural resources and environmental law. Wahpepah represents tribal governments in state, federal, and tribal courts.

Admissions

• Minnesota
• United States Courts of Appeal for the Eighth and Tenth Circuits
• United States District Court for the District of Minnesota
• Prairie Island Tribal Court
• Prairie Band Potawatomi Tribal Court
• Keweenaw Bay Indian Community Tribal Court
• Leech Lake Band Tribal Court

Tribal Affiliation

• Winnebago-Kickapoo, enrolled member of Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska

Honors

• Named a "Rising Star" by Minnesota Law and Politics, multiple years
• Adjunct law professor, Spring 2011, Hamline University School of Law, teaching Federal Indian Law
• Winner of Dorsey & Whitney LLP’s Scales of Justice pro bono award for representation of 11-year-old Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe member in civil rights lawsuit

Professional Activities

• Minnesota American Indian Bar Association, past Board member
• Native American Alumni of Notre Dame, National Board member

Presentations

• Presenter, “Hot Topics in Indian Law”, April 2, 2009, Federal Bar Association’s 34th Annual Indian Law Conference, Santa Fe, New Mexico
• Moderator, “Developing Regulatory and Legal Infrastructure to Support Economic Development, March 25, 2008, Native American Finance Officers Association conference
• Contributing editor, American Mining Congress, “Federal Lands and Minerals” chapter on Wilderness, 2005
• Co-author and co-presenter, “Waiver of Privilege”, in-house training for paralegals, January 2003
• Author and co-presenter, “Endangered Species Act,” in-house training for associates, August 2002