Debwe Services delivers organizational consulting, SBA 8(a) advisory, and federal program expertise rooted in 13 years of tribal enterprise leadership and federal government contracting.
Each service line is grounded in direct operational experience at the intersection of federal contracting, tribal governance, and the law — not theory.
We help federal agencies and tribally affiliated programs build stronger contracting frameworks, improve organizational performance, and navigate the complexities of Indian Country federal programs. From standing up a new tribal enterprise to preparing for a federal audit — we bring the operational depth to get it right.
Among a very small number of advisory firms whose principal has personally operated multiple SBA 8(a) certified companies — from certification through graduation. We offer federal agencies expert advisory on 8(a) set-aside strategy, source selection, contractor development, and compliance oversight.
Federal programs serving tribal nations operate under a unique and complex body of law — including P.L. 93-638, federal trust responsibilities, and agency-specific tribal consultation requirements. We provide advisory and legal support to ensure tribal programs and the agencies that fund them are fully compliant.
As a licensed attorney with deep expertise in federal Indian law and government contracting, we provide counsel that goes beyond surface-level advice. Contract drafting and review, tribal sovereign immunity, procurement disputes, and federal regulatory compliance — actionable and grounded in experience.
Debwe — an Ojibwe and Potawatomi word meaning "truth" — reflects our commitment to honest counsel, transparent practice, and results grounded in real experience.
"We are not a firm that advises on federal contracting from the outside."
Our principal, Jacob "Tug" Wamego, JD, MBA, spent 13 years as President, CEO, and General Counsel of Prairie Band LLC — a tribally owned holding company that grew from financial distress into a $65M+ federal contracting operation. He has operated three SBA 8(a) certified companies simultaneously, acquired two program graduates, and personally managed over $20 million in Indian Health Service contracts and a $25 million U.S. Navy urgent care contract.
He has sat at the table with tribal councils, federal contracting officers, IHS regional directors, and SBA program officials. That experience is what Debwe Services brings to every engagement.
Debwe Services is Native-owned, tribally connected, and built to serve Indian Country with the full weight of that experience. A division of Thunderbird Counsel LLC, headquartered in Mayetta, Kansas — in the heart of Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation territory.
Work With UsWe didn't study the 8(a) program — we ran three certified firms simultaneously and acquired two graduates. That operational depth is rare and directly translates into better advisory outcomes for our clients.
As an enrolled member of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation and a licensed attorney, Jacob Wamego can speak with tribal councils and federal program officers in the same trusted language — because he has served in both capacities.
A JD and MBA in a single engagement. Most consulting firms refer you to outside counsel. Debwe Services integrates legal analysis with business strategy from the start, reducing cost and accelerating results.
Deep familiarity with IHS, BIA, HUD-ONAP, DOD, and USDA Indian programs — including P.L. 93-638 self-determination contracting, SBA 8(a) set-asides, and the regulatory frameworks that govern them.
Chair of Prairie Band Health Services, Inc. Board President of Housing and Credit Counseling, Inc. Board Member of the Native American Contractors Association. Governance experience that informs every recommendation.
Our work is not transactional. Every engagement in Indian Country is connected to real communities, real sovereignty, and real economic futures. We hold that responsibility seriously in every matter we take on.
Whether you are a federal agency seeking organizational consulting, a tribal enterprise navigating the 8(a) program, or a government contractor in need of legal counsel — we respond promptly.