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This past October on Lifou island, a ancient-style canoe was set afloat in the turquoise waters – a small act that signified a highly meaningful moment.

It was the inaugural voyage of a traditional canoe on Lifou in generations, an gathering that assembled the island’s primary tribal groups in a uncommon display of togetherness.

Activist and sailor Aile Tikoure was behind the launch. For the past eight years, he has overseen a initiative that aims to revive ancestral vessel construction in New Caledonia.

Numerous traditional boats have been constructed in an initiative intended to reunite local Kanak populations with their maritime heritage. Tikoure states the boats also promote the “opening of discussions” around ocean rights and ecological regulations.

International Advocacy

In July, he journeyed to France and conferred with President Emmanuel Macron, calling for marine policies created in consultation with and by local tribes that recognise their maritime heritage.

“Forefathers always crossed the sea. We forgot that knowledge for a while,” Tikoure states. “Today we’re reclaiming it again.”

Canoes hold profound traditional meaning in New Caledonia. They once represented mobility, trade and clan alliances across islands, but those traditions faded under colonial rule and missionary influences.

Heritage Restoration

This mission commenced in 2016, when the New Caledonia government’s culture department was exploring how to reintroduce traditional canoe-building skills. Tikoure collaborated with the administration and following a two-year period the vessel restoration program – known as the Kenu Waan initiative – was launched.

“The most difficult aspect didn’t involve wood collection, it was persuading communities,” he explains.

Project Achievements

The initiative sought to revive heritage voyaging practices, train young builders and use boat-building to strengthen cultural identity and inter-island cooperation.

Up to now, the organization has organized a showcase, published a book and supported the creation or repair of approximately thirty vessels – from the southern region to the northern shoreline.

Natural Resources

Different from many other Pacific islands where forest clearing has reduced lumber availability, New Caledonia still has appropriate timber for carving large hulls.

“In other places, they often employ modern composites. Here, we can still carve solid logs,” he says. “This creates all the difference.”

The vessels built under the initiative combine Polynesian hull design with Melanesian rigging.

Educational Expansion

Beginning this year, Tikoure has also been teaching seafaring and heritage building techniques at the University of New Caledonia.

“It’s the first time this knowledge are included at advanced education. It’s not theory – it’s something I’ve experienced. I’ve crossed oceans on these canoes. I’ve experienced profound emotion while accomplishing this.”

Regional Collaboration

He traveled with the members of the traditional boat, the Pacific vessel that sailed to Tonga for the regional gathering in 2024.

“From Hawaii to Rapa Nui, including our location, this represents a unified effort,” he states. “We’re taking back the maritime heritage together.”

Policy Advocacy

In July, Tikoure visited the French city to present a “Kanak vision of the marine environment” when he had discussions with Macron and government representatives.

In front of government and international delegates, he argued for collaborative ocean management based on local practices and community involvement.

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

Modern Adaptation

Currently, when navigators from various island nations – from Fiji, Micronesia and Aotearoa – come to Lifou, they study canoes together, modify the design and ultimately voyage together.

“We’re not simply replicating the old models, we help them develop.”

Holistic Approach

According to Tikoure, teaching navigation and advocating environmental policy are linked.

“The fundamental issue involves public engagement: who is entitled to move across the sea, and what authority governs which activities take place on it? Heritage boats function as a means to start that conversation.”