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In October on the island of Lifou, a double-hulled canoe was set afloat in the turquoise waters – a seemingly minor event that signified a highly meaningful moment.

It was the first launch of a ancestral vessel on Lifou in many decades, an occasion that brought together the island’s main family lineages in a exceptional demonstration of solidarity.

Activist and sailor Aile Tikoure was instrumental in the launch. For the last eight years, he has led a project that aims to revive heritage canoe building in New Caledonia.

Many heritage vessels have been built in an project designed to reconnect Indigenous Kanak people with their oceanic traditions. Tikoure explains the boats also help the “start of conversation” around maritime entitlements and environmental policies.

International Advocacy

During the summer month of July, he journeyed to France and had discussions with President Emmanuel Macron, calling for maritime regulations developed alongside and by native populations that honor their relationship with the sea.

“Previous generations always crossed the sea. We lost that for a time,” Tikoure says. “Currently we’re rediscovering it again.”

Heritage boats hold deep cultural importance in New Caledonia. They once stood for movement, exchange and family cooperations across islands, but those traditions diminished under colonisation and outside cultural pressures.

Tradition Revival

This mission started in 2016, when the New Caledonia heritage ministry was looking at how to reintroduce traditional canoe-building skills. Tikoure collaborated with the administration and following a two-year period the canoe construction project – known as Project Kenu Waan – was born.

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

Program Successes

The initiative sought to revive heritage voyaging practices, mentor apprentice constructors and use canoe-making to strengthen traditional heritage and inter-island cooperation.

To date, the team has produced an exhibition, released a publication and supported the building or renovation of approximately thirty vessels – from the southern region to Ponerihouen.

Resource Benefits

Different from many other island territories where forest clearing has limited timber supplies, New Caledonia still has suitable wood for crafting substantial vessels.

“In other places, they often use marine plywood. Here, we can still work with whole trees,” he explains. “It makes all the difference.”

The canoes created under the initiative merge traditional boat forms with Melanesian rigging.

Teaching Development

Beginning this year, Tikoure has also been educating students in seafaring and ancestral craft methods at the local university.

“It’s the first time these subjects are taught at graduate studies. This isn’t academic – this is knowledge I’ve experienced. I’ve crossed oceans on traditional boats. I’ve felt overwhelming happiness doing it.”

Pacific Partnerships

He traveled with the crew of the Uto ni Yalo, the heritage craft that traveled to Tonga for the Pacific Islands Forum in 2024.

“From Hawaii to Rapa Nui, from Fiji to here, this represents a unified effort,” he states. “We’re restoring the maritime heritage together.”

Political Engagement

During the summer, Tikoure journeyed to the French city to introduce a “Indigenous perspective of the ocean” when he had discussions with Macron and other leaders.

In front of government and international delegates, he advocated for shared maritime governance based on Indigenous traditions and local engagement.

“You have to involve these communities – most importantly those who live from fishing.”

Contemporary Evolution

Today, when navigators from various island nations – from Fiji, the Micronesian region and New Zealand – arrive in Lifou, they study canoes in cooperation, refine the construction and eventually navigate in unison.

“We’re not simply replicating the old models, we enable their progression.”

Integrated Mission

In his view, educating sailors and advocating environmental policy are connected.

“The core concept concerns public engagement: who is entitled to travel ocean waters, and who decides which activities take place on it? The canoe serve as a method to start that conversation.”