text: Ms. Karrie S. Wichtman is an enrolled member of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians. She joined Rosette, LLP in April of 2010 and achieved Partner status in January of 2012 and is responsible for the operation of the Rosette, LLP Michigan Office. Ms. Wichtman received her J.D. from Michigan State University College of Law in December 2009 accompanied by a Certificate of Indigenous Law from the Michigan State University College of Law, Indigenous Law & Policy Center. She also holds a Master of Public Administration with a concentration in Administrative Law from Western Michigan University. Ms. Wichtman possesses approximately ten years’ experience building and maintaining relationships with tribal communities and has held various positions in the areas of local, federal and tribal government. Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Wichtman spent two years’ as a Project Leader for the Calhoun County Juvenile Home; three years as the Administrative Assistant to the United States Attorney for the Western District of Michigan, where she assisted in the development and implementation of projects involving Indian County; and two and a half years within the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians community as the Tribal Court Administrator where she was responsible for assisting in the initial development of the Tribal Court, as well as, the tribal infrastructure necessary to support its operation.
  Ms. Wichtman has first-hand knowledge of the concept of tribal sovereignty, drafting and application of tribal codes and court rules, policy and procedure development, as well as the diplomacy and objectivity that is necessary to maintain tribal governmental integrity. She has completed in-depth research in the areas of Indian Child Welfare and domestic violence issues affecting Indian Country. She is also a proven grant writer and skilled in the areas of contract drafting and negotiation, capacity building, program development and implementation, and community collaboration. For the past year and a half Ms. Wichtman has focused a significant amount of time in the area of E-Commerce and economic development in Indian Country, using her knowledge of tribal sovereignty and governmental infrastructure development to assist Tribes in the formation of successful business entities necessary to sustain tribal government programs and services, and attain goals of self-sufficiency.