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© 2012 Dorsey & Whitney LLP

  • 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

  • University of Notre Dame Law School (J.D., 2000), cum laude
    Dean’s Award for Jurisprudence, Environmental Law and Water Law
  • University of Oklahoma (B.A.), Journalism 

  • 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

Wilda Wahpepah

Attorney
Minneapolis
P: (612) 492-6522
F: (952) 516-5509
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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.  Ms. Wahpepah represents tribal governments in state, federal, and tribal courts.

Presentations

  • Panelist, “This is My Story,” Nov. 10, 2011, Hamline University Hedgeman Center for Diversity Initiatives, St. Paul, Minn.
  • Co-Author and Co-Presenter, “Hot Topics in Native American Financing, 2011,” Nov. 3, 2011, Lorman Education Services, Online Webinar.
  • Author and Presenter, “Internet Gaming,” Oct. 17, 2011, William Mitchell College of Law Second Annual Indian Law CLE, St. Paul, Minn.
  • Co-Author and Co-Presenter, “Drafting Enforceable Contracts in Indian Country,” May 5, 2011, Minnesota CLE Annual Business Law Institute, Minneapolis, Minn.
  • Panelist, “The Practice of Indian Law and the Politics of Identity,” April 4, 2011, William Mitchell College of Law, St. Paul, Minn.
  • Presenter, “Indian Energy: History, Policy and Moving Forward with Strength”, March 22, 2011, Native American Finance Officers Association conference, Pala, Calif.
  • Presenter, “Wind Power on Tribal Lands”, October 10, 2010, Midwest Wind Summit, Brookings, S.D.
  • Presenter, “Hot Topics in Indian Law”, April 2, 2009, Federal Bar Association’s 34th Annual Indian Law Conference, Santa Fe, N.M.
  • Moderator, “Developing Regulatory and Legal Infrastructure to Support Economic Development, March 25, 2008, Native American Finance Officers Association conference, New Orleans, La.
  • 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.

Professional Activities

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

News & Press Mentions

June 19, 2008
Federal Lawsuit Against Tribal Council Dismissed

Other Articles

  • Conference on Consumer Finance Law Quarterly Report, “Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. v. Lake of the Torches Economic Development Corp”, Spring 2011
  • Contributing Editor, American Mining Congress, “Federal Lands and Minerals” chapter on Wilderness, 2005