Honorable Glenda Nelson

Glenda Nelson is the Tribal Chairperson and Elder of the Estom Yumeka Maidu Tribe of the Enterprise Rancheria, a sovereign American Indian nation of 1,136 tribal citizens. Glenda has served on Tribal Council since 2003. She served two years as the Tribal Council Treasurer prior to becoming the Tribal Chairperson in 2005.

In addition to her work in in the legal field as a Paralegal, Office Manager and Legal Secretary from 1979 through 1996, she also worked as the Chief Business Official for the Pioneer Union Elementary School District for 20 years from 1996 through 2017.

She was born and raised on the Enterprise Rancheria. Her grandmother and father both instilled the importance, honor and duty that she feels to serve her Native People — to protect the Rancheria lands and sovereign rights of the Native Nations.

Glenda is the eldest of her six siblings. Coming from a broken home, she was sent to a Native American school for youth, suffered many hurdles, but was one of the very first Native American youth to have graduated College through the assistance of the Bureau of Indian Affairs in the 1970’s in the State of California. She has a heartfelt passion for children affected by the Indian Child Welfare Act and works passionately in a leadership role to help identify services and programs available.
Glenda has extensive experience working in Indian Country and continues to be actively involved in Government Relations, Development of Educational Programs, Public Relations, Indian Health Care, Housing and National Tribal Organizations.

Chairperson Nelson has worked with and lead the Enterprise Rancheria Tribal Council for over two decades. In October 2019 the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Sacramento at Fire Mountain opened and brings many resources to help the tribe provide for its members. Glenda brings many years of gaming, financial, legal and educational experience to the leadership of her tribe, local community and on national forums.