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In October on the island of Lifou, a ancient-style canoe was launched into the coastal lagoon – a simple gesture that signified a deeply symbolic moment.

It was the inaugural voyage of a heritage boat on Lifou in living memory, an gathering that assembled the island’s main family lineages in a exceptional demonstration of solidarity.

Activist and sailor Aile Tikoure was the driving force behind the launch. For the previous eight-year period, he has overseen a initiative that seeks to restore traditional boat making in New Caledonia.

Many heritage vessels have been crafted in an effort intended to reunite Indigenous Kanak people with their seafaring legacy. Tikoure says the boats also help the “beginning of dialogue” around sea access rights and environmental policies.

Global Outreach

In July, he journeyed to France and met President Emmanuel Macron, pushing for maritime regulations developed alongside and by Indigenous communities that acknowledge their connection to the ocean.

“Our ancestors always crossed the sea. We lost that for a period,” Tikoure states. “Now we’re finding it again.”

Heritage boats hold profound traditional importance in New Caledonia. They once symbolised mobility, trade and family cooperations across islands, but those practices diminished under colonial rule and outside cultural pressures.

Tradition Revival

This mission commenced in 2016, when the New Caledonia heritage ministry was looking at how to restore ancestral boat-making techniques. Tikoure collaborated with the administration and two years later the boat building initiative – known as Kenu Waan project – was born.

“The biggest challenge was not harvesting timber, it was persuading communities,” he notes.

Project Achievements

The Kenu Waan project worked to bring back traditional navigation techniques, train young builders and use canoe-making to strengthen cultural identity and island partnerships.

So far, the team has produced an exhibition, issued a volume and supported the construction or restoration of around 30 canoes – from Goro to Ponerihouen.

Natural Resources

Unlike many other oceanic nations where tree loss has diminished wood resources, New Caledonia still has suitable wood for carving large hulls.

“In other places, they often use synthetic materials. Locally, we can still craft from natural timber,” he states. “It makes all the difference.”

The canoes built under the initiative merge Polynesian hull design with local sailing systems.

Educational Expansion

Starting recently, Tikoure has also been educating students in maritime travel and heritage building techniques at the local university.

“This marks the initial occasion these topics are included at graduate studies. This isn’t academic – it’s something I’ve personally undertaken. I’ve crossed oceans on these canoes. I’ve cried tears of joy doing it.”

Regional Collaboration

He traveled with the members of the Uto ni Yalo, the heritage craft that journeyed to Tonga for the regional gathering in 2024.

“Across the Pacific, from Fiji to here, we’re part of a collective initiative,” he states. “We’re reclaiming the ocean together.”

Political Engagement

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

Before state and international delegates, he advocated for collaborative ocean management based on Kanak custom and community involvement.

“It’s essential to include local populations – particularly those who live from fishing.”

Current Development

Today, when mariners from throughout the region – from the Fijian islands, Micronesia and Aotearoa – arrive in Lifou, they analyze boats collectively, refine the construction and finally sail side by side.

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

Comprehensive Vision

For Tikoure, instructing mariners and supporting ecological regulations are interrelated.

“The core concept concerns public engagement: what permissions exist to navigate marine territories, and who determines which activities take place there? Traditional vessels is a way to initiate that discussion.”