
In 2018 Oxen's founder, Alex McNeil, piloted an industry first Inuit Community Ambassador program. That year four community members were welcomed onboard two expedition voyages as honoured paid guests. The objective of that pilot was for the community members to participate in the voyage with guests and, along the way, illuminate aspects of their knowledge and culture with the international travellers onboard. The key principle of this program was that the ambassadors were able to contribute as much or as little as they felt comfortable with.
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After a brief hiatus (due to the pandemic) the program restarted in 2022 with pioneering expedition operators making opportunities for up to six Oxen Community Ambassadors available over three Northwest Passage voyages.Â
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In 2023 the program is scheduled to expand further with expedition operators committing space for up to sixteen Community Ambassadors over eight separate expedition voyages. The total prospective economic benefit of this program in 2023 is >$100,000 USD.Â
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