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During the autumn month of October on Lifou, a double-hulled canoe was set afloat in the turquoise waters – a small act that marked a highly meaningful moment.

It was the first launch of a ancestral vessel on Lifou in generations, an gathering that assembled the island’s three chiefly clans in a rare show of unity.

Seafarer and campaigner Aile Tikoure was the driving force behind the launch. For the past eight years, he has overseen a project that aims to revive heritage canoe building in New Caledonia.

Dozens of canoes have been built in an initiative aimed at reconnecting local Kanak populations with their oceanic traditions. Tikoure says the boats also help the “opening of discussions” around ocean rights and conservation measures.

International Advocacy

During the summer month of July, he visited France and had discussions with President Emmanuel Macron, calling for ocean governance shaped with and by local tribes that acknowledge their relationship with the sea.

“Our ancestors always traveled by water. We lost that for a period,” Tikoure states. “Today we’re reclaiming it again.”

Canoes hold significant historical significance in New Caledonia. They once represented travel, interaction and family cooperations across islands, but those traditions diminished under foreign occupation and religious conversion efforts.

Cultural Reclamation

This mission commenced in 2016, when the New Caledonia government’s culture department was considering how to reintroduce heritage vessel construction methods. Tikoure collaborated with the government and two years later the vessel restoration program – known as Kenu Waan project – was launched.

“The biggest challenge didn’t involve wood collection, it was convincing people,” he says.

Project Achievements

The initiative worked to bring back traditional navigation techniques, mentor apprentice constructors and use vessel construction to reinforce traditional heritage and inter-island cooperation.

To date, the organization has organized a showcase, issued a volume and enabled the creation or repair of approximately thirty vessels – from the southern region to Ponerihouen.

Resource Benefits

In contrast to many other island territories where deforestation has diminished timber supplies, New Caledonia still has appropriate timber for crafting substantial vessels.

“In other places, they often use marine plywood. In our location, we can still carve solid logs,” he explains. “This creates a crucial distinction.”

The canoes constructed under the program combine traditional boat forms with local sailing systems.

Academic Integration

Since 2024, Tikoure has also been educating students in maritime travel and traditional construction history at the educational institution.

“It’s the first time these subjects are included at master’s level. This isn’t academic – these are experiences I’ve lived. I’ve crossed oceans on traditional boats. I’ve experienced profound emotion while accomplishing this.”

Regional Collaboration

Tikoure sailed with the members of the traditional boat, the heritage craft that sailed to Tonga for the Pacific Islands Forum in 2024.

“Across the Pacific, through various islands, this represents a unified effort,” he states. “We’re restoring the ocean together.”

Political Engagement

This past July, Tikoure travelled to the European location to present a “Kanak vision of the ocean” when he had discussions with Macron and government representatives.

In front of government and overseas representatives, he argued for cooperative sea policies based on local practices and local engagement.

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

Modern Adaptation

Now, when navigators from throughout the region – from the Fijian islands, Micronesia and New Zealand – visit Lifou, they study canoes collectively, refine the construction and ultimately navigate in unison.

“We don’t just copy the old models, we enable their progression.”

Integrated Mission

For Tikoure, instructing mariners and advocating environmental policy are linked.

“It’s all about community participation: who has the right to travel ocean waters, and who determines what occurs on it? Heritage boats is a way to begin that dialogue.”