🔗 Share this article

In October on the island of Lifou, a traditional twin-hulled vessel was launched into the turquoise waters – a seemingly minor event that represented a highly meaningful moment.

It was the maiden journey of a traditional canoe on Lifou in generations, an event that assembled the island’s main family lineages in a rare show of unity.

Mariner and advocate Aile Tikoure was behind the launch. For the past eight years, he has led a project that works to resurrect traditional boat making in New Caledonia.

Many heritage vessels have been constructed in an project aimed at reconnecting native Kanak communities with their seafaring legacy. Tikoure explains the boats also help the “opening of discussions” around sea access rights and conservation measures.

Diplomatic Efforts

This past July, he journeyed to France and had discussions with President Emmanuel Macron, pushing for marine policies developed alongside and by Indigenous communities that acknowledge their relationship with the sea.

“Forefathers always navigated the ocean. We lost that for a period,” Tikoure states. “Today we’re reclaiming it again.”

Canoes hold deep cultural meaning in New Caledonia. They once represented movement, interaction and family cooperations across islands, but those practices diminished under foreign occupation and missionary influences.

Heritage Restoration

The initiative started in 2016, when the New Caledonia government’s culture department was considering how to bring back ancestral boat-making techniques. Tikoure worked with the government and following a two-year period the boat building initiative – known as the Kenu Waan initiative – was born.

“The most difficult aspect was not harvesting timber, it was convincing people,” he explains.

Program Successes

The Kenu Waan project sought to revive traditional navigation techniques, train young builders and use canoe-making to enhance cultural identity and regional collaboration.

To date, the organization has created a display, released a publication and enabled the building or renovation of approximately thirty vessels – from Goro to Ponerihouen.

Resource Benefits

Different from many other island territories where forest clearing has reduced lumber availability, New Caledonia still has appropriate timber for crafting substantial vessels.

“In other places, they often use modern composites. Locally, we can still craft from natural timber,” he says. “It makes a significant advantage.”

The vessels created under the initiative integrate traditional boat forms with local sailing systems.

Academic Integration

Since 2024, Tikoure has also been educating students in seafaring and traditional construction history at the local university.

“It’s the first time these subjects are offered at advanced education. This isn’t academic – this is knowledge I’ve lived. I’ve sailed vast distances on traditional boats. I’ve felt overwhelming happiness during these journeys.”

Pacific Partnerships

He traveled with the members of the Fijian vessel, the Fijian canoe that traveled to Tonga for the regional gathering in 2024.

“From Hawaii to Rapa Nui, including our location, it’s the same movement,” he explains. “We’re taking back the sea collectively.”

Governance Efforts

During the summer, Tikoure travelled to Nice, France to share a “Traditional understanding of the ocean” when he had discussions with Macron and other leaders.

In front of government and foreign officials, he pushed for cooperative sea policies based on Kanak custom and local engagement.

“We must engage these communities – especially those who live from fishing.”

Contemporary Evolution

Today, when sailors from various island nations – from the Fijian islands, Micronesia and Aotearoa – visit Lifou, they study canoes together, adjust the structure and eventually voyage together.

“We’re not simply replicating the ancient designs, we make them evolve.”

Holistic Approach

In his view, teaching navigation and supporting ecological regulations are linked.

“It’s all about public engagement: who is entitled to navigate marine territories, and who determines what occurs there? Traditional vessels function as a means to initiate that discussion.”