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In October on the island of Lifou, a ancient-style canoe was pushed into the coastal lagoon – a seemingly minor event that marked a highly meaningful moment.

It was the inaugural voyage of a traditional canoe on Lifou in living memory, an event that united the island’s main family lineages in a rare show of unity.

Activist and sailor Aile Tikoure was instrumental in the launch. For the previous eight-year period, he has spearheaded a initiative that works to resurrect traditional boat making in New Caledonia.

Numerous traditional boats have been built in an effort intended to reunite local Kanak populations with their seafaring legacy. Tikoure states the boats also promote the “start of conversation” around maritime entitlements and conservation measures.

International Advocacy

This past July, he journeyed to France and met President Emmanuel Macron, advocating for ocean governance developed alongside and by native populations that honor their relationship with the sea.

“Forefathers always traveled by water. We abandoned that practice for a time,” Tikoure says. “Currently we’re rediscovering it again.”

Canoes hold significant historical significance in New Caledonia. They once stood for movement, trade and family cooperations across islands, but those traditions diminished under colonial rule and outside cultural pressures.

Cultural Reclamation

This mission started in 2016, when the New Caledonia cultural authorities was exploring how to restore traditional canoe-building skills. Tikoure worked with the authorities and two years later the boat building initiative – known as Kenu Waan project – was launched.

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

Program Successes

The Kenu Waan project worked to bring back traditional navigation techniques, educate new craftspeople and use boat-building to strengthen cultural identity and inter-island cooperation.

To date, the team has created a display, issued a volume and enabled the creation or repair of around 30 canoes – from the far south to Ponerihouen.

Resource Benefits

In contrast to many other island territories where forest clearing has limited lumber availability, New Caledonia still has suitable wood for constructing major boats.

“There, they often work with modern composites. In our location, we can still carve solid logs,” he states. “This creates a significant advantage.”

The vessels built under the initiative combine traditional boat forms with regional navigation methods.

Teaching Development

Beginning this year, Tikoure has also been instructing maritime travel and traditional construction history at the University of New Caledonia.

“It’s the first time this knowledge are offered at advanced education. It’s not theory – this is knowledge I’ve personally undertaken. I’ve crossed oceans on traditional boats. I’ve experienced profound emotion during these journeys.”

Island Cooperation

He voyaged with the team of the Uto ni Yalo, the Fijian canoe that traveled to Tonga for the Pacific Islands Forum in 2024.

“From Hawaii to Rapa Nui, including our location, we’re part of a collective initiative,” he states. “We’re reclaiming the sea collectively.”

Political Engagement

In July, Tikoure visited Nice, France to introduce a “Traditional understanding of the marine environment” when he had discussions with Macron and additional officials.

Addressing official and international delegates, he argued for shared maritime governance based on Kanak custom and local engagement.

“You have to involve local populations – most importantly those who live from fishing.”

Current Development

Currently, when mariners from across the Pacific – from the Fijian islands, the Micronesian region and New Zealand – visit Lifou, they analyze boats collectively, modify the design and eventually voyage together.

“We don’t just copy the traditional forms, we enable their progression.”

Comprehensive Vision

According to Tikoure, teaching navigation and supporting ecological regulations are linked.

“It’s all about public engagement: what permissions exist to move across the sea, and what authority governs which activities take place on it? The canoe serve as a method to initiate that discussion.”