The Department of the Interior has announced a new partnership between the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Bureau of Indian Education aimed at preparing Native students for careers in wildland firefighting. The initiative is designed to build a stronger workforce and create clear pathways from school to career for tribal youth.
The Native Youth Firefighter Training Program offers high school and post-secondary students hands-on instruction, mentorship, and technical training. This prepares them for both seasonal and permanent positions with tribal, federal, and state fire programs.
“Wildland firefighters protect lives, communities and some of our most treasured landscapes,” said Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum. “This program invests directly in Native youth, builds a skilled workforce for the future and supports the Trump administration’s priority to strengthen public safety and create practical career opportunities through education and training.”
Students currently participating in the program attend Pine Ridge School, Cheyenne Eagle Butte School, and St. Francis Indian School in South Dakota; Two Eagle River School in Montana; Northwest High School in New Mexico; and Sequoyah High School in Oklahoma. Officials are also considering expanding student participation through a dual enrollment program at Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute in New Mexico.
“Education must lead to opportunity,” said Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Billy Kirkland. “By linking tribal schools with high-demand public service careers, this program honors tribal communities, supports self-determination and helps young people build futures of service, leadership and stability.”
Bureau of Indian Education schools and colleges provide daily oversight and support for students involved in the program. The Bureau of Indian Affairs fire training staff conduct virtual instruction and mentorship using resources such as the Wildland Fire Learning Portal.
The Native Youth Firefighter Training Program is part of the Interior Department’s broader effort to support workforce development within tribal communities while preparing young people for roles as wildland fire professionals.
