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In October on Lifou island, a ancient-style canoe was set afloat in the lagoon – a seemingly minor event that signified a highly meaningful moment.

It was the inaugural voyage of a traditional canoe on Lifou in many decades, an event that assembled the island’s main family lineages in a exceptional demonstration of solidarity.

Mariner and advocate Aile Tikoure was instrumental in the launch. For the last eight years, he has overseen a initiative that seeks to restore traditional boat making in New Caledonia.

Many heritage vessels have been crafted in an project intended to reunite native Kanak communities with their oceanic traditions. Tikoure states the boats also promote the “beginning of dialogue” around sea access rights and ecological regulations.

Diplomatic Efforts

In July, he visited France and conferred with President Emmanuel Macron, pushing for marine policies created in consultation with and by local tribes that acknowledge their connection to the ocean.

“Previous generations always crossed the sea. We forgot that knowledge for a while,” Tikoure says. “Now we’re finding it again.”

Canoes hold profound traditional significance in New Caledonia. They once represented travel, trade and tribal partnerships across islands, but those customs faded under foreign occupation and religious conversion efforts.

Cultural Reclamation

The initiative began in 2016, when the New Caledonia government’s culture department was considering how to restore traditional canoe-building skills. Tikoure collaborated with the authorities and following a two-year period the canoe construction project – known as Kenu Waan project – was launched.

“The hardest part was not cutting down trees, it was gaining local support,” he explains.

Project Achievements

The program aimed to restore heritage voyaging practices, train young builders and use canoe-making to reinforce cultural identity and island partnerships.

So far, the group has created a display, released a publication and supported the building or renovation of around 30 canoes – from Goro to the northeastern coast.

Natural Resources

Different from many other oceanic nations where forest clearing has diminished lumber availability, New Caledonia still has proper lumber for constructing major boats.

“Elsewhere, they often use marine plywood. Locally, we can still carve solid logs,” he says. “That represents a significant advantage.”

The vessels built under the initiative integrate oceanic vessel shapes with Melanesian rigging.

Educational Expansion

Beginning this year, Tikoure has also been instructing seafaring and heritage building techniques at the educational institution.

“It’s the first time this knowledge are offered at advanced education. This isn’t academic – these are experiences I’ve personally undertaken. I’ve navigated major waters 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 traveled to Tonga for the regional gathering in 2024.

“From Hawaii to Rapa Nui, including our location, we’re part of a collective initiative,” he states. “We’re taking back the ocean together.”

Political Engagement

In July, Tikoure travelled to the French city to introduce a “Indigenous perspective of the marine environment” when he met with Macron and additional officials.

In front of government and foreign officials, he advocated for cooperative sea policies based on local practices and community involvement.

“You have to involve them – particularly people dependent on marine resources.”

Modern Adaptation

Today, when mariners from various island nations – from Fiji, the Micronesian region and New Zealand – visit Lifou, they examine vessels collectively, refine the construction and ultimately navigate in unison.

“We’re not simply replicating the traditional forms, we help them develop.”

Holistic Approach

For Tikoure, instructing mariners 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 in these waters? Traditional vessels function as a means to initiate that discussion.”