Martha Oatman-Durst: Extraordinary Employee and Employee of the Month for Indian Gaming Magazine

By Agnes L. Weaskus

“Ms. Martha Oatman-Durst is a people-oriented person. She believes in fair treatment and teamwork. She is very encouraging and says that even the smallest person on the totem pole had a voice and should be heard. Martha has always said that we are her Casino family and that her door is open at any time,” commented Day Shift Supervisor, Janet Black Eagle and promoter for submitting Ms. Durst for Employee for the Month to the Indian Gaming Magazine. Ms. Durst was the Nez Perce Tribe’s November Employee of the Month as well. “We believe her story is so unique that we thought she is a good candidate for this honor,” said Black Eagle.

Martha Oatman-Durst is a Nez Perce Native from Kamiah, Idaho. Durst is currently serving the Nez Perce Tribe as Interim General Manager of both the Lapwai and Kamiah Casinos and other Tribal Enterprises.

Durst began her career in the gaming operation as a cashier at the It’se Ye Casino in Kamiah, Idaho when the doors were first opened back in December of 1995. Durst then moved up the ladder and became the Manager.

Durst has been instrumental in developing procedures to fit the many policies that govern Tribal Gaming in Idaho. Durst initiated training procedures for her shift including Minimum Internal Control, Tribal Internal Controls, Tribal Gaming Ordinance, State Compact, Human Resource Manual, OSHA Standards and Health Codes. When the Casino Enterprise was reorganized, Durst was moved to the Clearwater River Casino to become a Shift Manager and she currently serves as the interim General Manager.

“Martha, as our supervisor, would hold meetings with us to keep us informed of important information we needed related to our work and NIGA. She honored everyone’s opinion and showed no favoritism among her staff,” said Black Eagle. “We got together and wrote a letter in her behalf and sent it to the National Indian Gaming Magazine in hopes that she would be selected as Employee of the Month, and to our surprise and joy, she was selected,” Black Eagle said.

When asked how and when she learned of this award Durst responded, “I received a call at work from the National Indian Gaming Magazine informing me that I was selected as their Employee of the Month For January, 2004. I was in shock. You see it was one of those days when it was one of my worst days, one where things were just being difficult. I felt down until I received the call. The phone call lifted my spirits and it made my day. I couldn’t believe it,” Durst said.

“The reason I received this award is because of my employees. They support me and back me up by following direction and regulations as required. To be a good manager you need good employees,” said Durst with pride.

“ I want to thank all of the employees for all your hard work and dedication you have performed for the Tribal Gaming Enterprise in order to make it prosper. It is the employees that make it a success that it is today. Everyone is important, from the bottom to the top, because it takes everybody to make the Gaming Enterprise the success that it is,” Durst said.