The process of becoming a wildland firefighter can be arduous, particularly for underresourced tribal members, but the Washington legislature has authorized $800,000 in tribal-related funding.
This money is earmarked partly for the costs associated with wildland firefighter training: course fees, per diem, travel and so on. According to a DNR press release, "Funding in the way of scholarships will be provided to tribal members or tribal nation employees that participate in select trainings." The remaining funds will go toward an interorganizational fire suppression program. DNR wants to partner with the Washington State University Extension Service to deliver relevant instruction. These classes and workshops will familiarize tribal members with "fire suppression and prescribed fire...important aspects of fire management on landscapes."