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This past October on Lifou, a double-hulled canoe was pushed into the lagoon – a small act that signified a profoundly important moment.

It was the first launch of a ancestral vessel on Lifou in many decades, an occasion that assembled the island’s three chiefly clans in a exceptional demonstration of solidarity.

Activist and sailor Aile Tikoure was behind the launch. For the previous eight-year period, he has led a project that works to resurrect ancestral vessel construction in New Caledonia.

Many heritage vessels have been constructed in an initiative intended to reunite local Kanak populations with their maritime heritage. Tikoure explains the boats also promote the “start of conversation” around sea access rights and environmental policies.

Global Outreach

During the summer month of July, he travelled to France and met President Emmanuel Macron, pushing for marine policies created in consultation with and by Indigenous communities that recognise their maritime heritage.

“Previous generations always navigated the ocean. We lost that for a while,” Tikoure states. “Currently we’re rediscovering it again.”

Canoes hold significant historical significance in New Caledonia. They once represented movement, interaction and tribal partnerships across islands, but those practices declined under colonial rule and religious conversion efforts.

Tradition Revival

His journey commenced in 2016, when the New Caledonia heritage ministry was looking at how to restore traditional canoe-building skills. Tikoure partnered with the authorities and two years later the boat building initiative – known as Kenu Waan project – was born.

“The biggest challenge didn’t involve wood collection, it was persuading communities,” he notes.

Program Successes

The initiative worked to bring back heritage voyaging practices, train young builders and use vessel construction to strengthen cultural identity and inter-island cooperation.

Up to now, the organization has produced an exhibition, released a publication and facilitated the creation or repair of approximately thirty vessels – from Goro to the northern shoreline.

Resource Benefits

In contrast to many other Pacific islands where forest clearing has diminished wood resources, New Caledonia still has appropriate timber for carving large hulls.

“In other places, they often use marine plywood. Locally, we can still carve solid logs,” he says. “It makes all the difference.”

The canoes created under the Kenu Waan Project integrate traditional boat forms with Melanesian rigging.

Educational Expansion

Beginning this year, Tikoure has also been teaching seafaring and ancestral craft methods at the educational institution.

“For the first time ever these subjects are taught at graduate studies. It goes beyond textbooks – these are experiences I’ve experienced. I’ve navigated major waters on these vessels. I’ve experienced profound emotion during these journeys.”

Island Cooperation

He traveled with the team of the Fijian vessel, the Fijian canoe that journeyed to Tonga for the oceanic conference in 2024.

“From Hawaii to Rapa Nui, including our location, this represents a unified effort,” he says. “We’re restoring the ocean as a community.”

Governance Efforts

During the summer, Tikoure journeyed to the European location to present a “Indigenous perspective of the sea” when he conferred with Macron and additional officials.

Addressing official and international delegates, he pushed for shared maritime governance based on local practices and participation.

“You have to involve these communities – most importantly people dependent on marine resources.”

Current Development

Now, when navigators from across the Pacific – from Fiji, Micronesia and New Zealand – arrive in Lifou, they analyze boats in cooperation, refine the construction and eventually navigate in unison.

“It’s not about duplicating the ancient designs, we help them develop.”

Holistic Approach

According to Tikoure, educating sailors and advocating environmental policy are connected.

“The fundamental issue involves how we involve people: who is entitled to travel ocean waters, and who decides which activities take place in these waters? Traditional vessels function as a means to begin that dialogue.”