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In October on Lifou, a double-hulled canoe was pushed into the coastal lagoon – a seemingly minor event that marked a deeply symbolic moment.

It was the inaugural voyage of a heritage boat on Lifou in many decades, an event that united the island’s primary tribal groups in a rare show of unity.

Mariner and advocate Aile Tikoure was the driving force behind the launch. For the past eight years, he has led a initiative that seeks to restore heritage canoe building in New Caledonia.

Dozens of canoes have been built in an project designed to reconnect local Kanak populations with their oceanic traditions. Tikoure says the boats also help the “start of conversation” around sea access rights and conservation measures.

International Advocacy

This past July, he visited France and met President Emmanuel Macron, advocating for maritime regulations shaped with and by native populations that honor their maritime heritage.

“Forefathers always crossed the sea. We lost that for a time,” Tikoure explains. “Currently we’re rediscovering it again.”

Canoes hold significant historical meaning in New Caledonia. They once represented mobility, trade and family cooperations across islands, but those traditions faded under colonial rule and missionary influences.

Tradition Revival

His journey began in 2016, when the New Caledonia government’s culture department was considering how to reintroduce ancestral boat-making techniques. Tikoure partnered with the administration and two years later the boat building initiative – known as the Kenu Waan initiative – was launched.

“The hardest part was not harvesting timber, it was convincing people,” he says.

Program Successes

The program worked to bring back ancestral sailing methods, train young builders and use vessel construction to strengthen community pride and island partnerships.

To date, the group has produced an exhibition, published a book and supported the construction or restoration of around 30 canoes – from the far south to the northeastern coast.

Natural Resources

In contrast to many other oceanic nations where deforestation has diminished wood resources, New Caledonia still has suitable wood for carving large hulls.

“Elsewhere, they often use modern composites. In our location, we can still carve solid logs,” he says. “This creates a crucial distinction.”

The vessels built under the Kenu Waan Project integrate oceanic vessel shapes with local sailing systems.

Educational Expansion

Beginning this year, Tikoure has also been educating students in seafaring and ancestral craft methods at the local university.

“This marks the initial occasion these topics are offered at master’s level. It goes beyond textbooks – this is knowledge I’ve personally undertaken. I’ve navigated major waters on these vessels. I’ve experienced profound emotion during these journeys.”

Regional Collaboration

He voyaged with the team of the Fijian vessel, the Pacific vessel 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 reclaiming the sea as a community.”

Political Engagement

In July, Tikoure travelled to Nice, France to present a “Kanak vision of the marine environment” when he had discussions with Macron and other leaders.

In front of government and international delegates, he pushed for collaborative ocean management based on Kanak custom and participation.

“You have to involve these communities – most importantly fishing communities.”

Contemporary Evolution

Now, when navigators from throughout the region – from the Fijian islands, the Micronesian region and New Zealand – come to Lifou, they analyze boats together, adjust the structure and ultimately voyage together.

“It’s not about duplicating the traditional forms, we make them evolve.”

Comprehensive Vision

For Tikoure, teaching navigation and supporting ecological regulations are interrelated.

“The core concept concerns community participation: who has the right to move across the sea, and who decides which activities take place on it? Traditional vessels function as a means to begin that dialogue.”