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During the autumn month of October on the island of Lifou, a traditional twin-hulled vessel was set afloat in the 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 occasion that assembled the island’s three chiefly clans in a uncommon display of togetherness.

Seafarer and campaigner Aile Tikoure was instrumental in the launch. For the previous eight-year period, he has spearheaded a project that seeks to restore traditional boat making in New Caledonia.

Dozens of canoes have been crafted in an project designed to reconnect native Kanak communities with their oceanic traditions. Tikoure explains the boats also promote the “beginning of dialogue” around sea access rights and conservation measures.

Global Outreach

In July, he travelled to France and conferred with President Emmanuel Macron, pushing for marine policies shaped with and by native populations that acknowledge their maritime heritage.

“Forefathers always navigated the ocean. We lost that for a while,” Tikoure states. “Today we’re reclaiming it again.”

Canoes hold profound traditional meaning in New Caledonia. They once represented mobility, interaction and tribal partnerships across islands, but those practices declined under foreign occupation and missionary influences.

Cultural Reclamation

His journey began in 2016, when the New Caledonia cultural authorities was looking at how to bring back heritage vessel construction methods. Tikoure worked with the administration and after two years the boat building initiative – known as Project Kenu Waan – was launched.

“The hardest part was not harvesting timber, it was persuading communities,” he explains.

Program Successes

The initiative aimed to restore traditional navigation techniques, train young builders and use boat-building to enhance traditional heritage and regional collaboration.

To date, the group has produced an exhibition, published a book and facilitated the building or renovation of nearly three dozen boats – from Goro to the northeastern coast.

Resource Benefits

In contrast to many other island territories where tree loss has limited lumber availability, New Caledonia still has proper lumber for crafting substantial vessels.

“There, they often use modern composites. Locally, we can still work with whole trees,” he says. “That represents a significant advantage.”

The canoes constructed under the program combine oceanic vessel shapes with regional navigation methods.

Academic Integration

Starting recently, Tikoure has also been instructing seafaring and ancestral craft methods at the University of New Caledonia.

“It’s the first time these topics are offered at master’s level. This isn’t academic – this is knowledge I’ve personally undertaken. I’ve navigated major waters on these canoes. I’ve felt overwhelming happiness during these journeys.”

Regional Collaboration

He traveled with the crew of the Uto ni Yalo, the Pacific vessel that journeyed to Tonga for the regional gathering in 2024.

“From Hawaii to Rapa Nui, from Fiji to here, this represents a unified effort,” he explains. “We’re restoring the ocean together.”

Policy Advocacy

This past July, Tikoure journeyed to the European location to present a “Traditional understanding of the marine environment” when he conferred with Macron and additional officials.

Before state and foreign officials, he advocated for collaborative ocean management based on Kanak custom and participation.

“It’s essential to include local populations – most importantly fishing communities.”

Modern Adaptation

Today, when mariners from throughout the region – from Fiji, the Micronesian region and Aotearoa – arrive in Lifou, they study canoes together, modify the design and ultimately voyage together.

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

Integrated Mission

According to Tikoure, educating sailors and promoting conservation measures are interrelated.

“It’s all about public engagement: who has the right to navigate marine territories, and what authority governs what occurs there? Heritage boats is a way to begin that dialogue.”