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In October on Lifou island, a double-hulled canoe was set afloat in the lagoon – a simple gesture that signified a profoundly important moment.

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

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

Many heritage vessels have been built in an project intended to reunite Indigenous Kanak people with their maritime heritage. Tikoure explains the boats also help the “start of conversation” around maritime entitlements and environmental policies.

Global Outreach

During the summer month of July, he travelled to France and met President Emmanuel Macron, pushing for ocean governance created in consultation with and by native populations that acknowledge their maritime heritage.

“Forefathers always navigated the ocean. We lost that for a time,” Tikoure states. “Currently we’re rediscovering it again.”

Traditional vessels hold profound traditional meaning in New Caledonia. They once symbolised mobility, interaction and family cooperations across islands, but those practices declined under colonial rule and religious conversion efforts.

Tradition Revival

His journey started in 2016, when the New Caledonia government’s culture department was looking at how to reintroduce heritage vessel construction methods. Tikoure partnered with the authorities and two years later the vessel restoration program – known as the Kenu Waan initiative – was born.

“The most difficult aspect didn’t involve wood collection, it was gaining local support,” he says.

Initiative Accomplishments

The initiative aimed to restore heritage voyaging practices, train young builders and use canoe-making to enhance traditional heritage and island partnerships.

To date, the team has organized a showcase, released a publication and enabled the creation or repair of around 30 canoes – from the southern region to the northern shoreline.

Material Advantages

Unlike many other oceanic nations where forest clearing has limited timber supplies, New Caledonia still has proper lumber for crafting substantial vessels.

“There, they often work with synthetic materials. Here, we can still carve solid logs,” he explains. “That represents all the difference.”

The canoes constructed under the initiative integrate oceanic vessel shapes with Melanesian rigging.

Educational Expansion

Starting recently, Tikoure has also been instructing maritime travel and heritage building techniques at the University of New Caledonia.

“This marks the initial occasion these topics are offered at advanced education. This isn’t academic – this is knowledge I’ve lived. I’ve navigated major waters on these canoes. I’ve experienced profound emotion while accomplishing this.”

Pacific Partnerships

He traveled with the members of the Uto ni Yalo, the Pacific vessel that sailed to Tonga for the oceanic conference in 2024.

“Throughout the region, through various islands, it’s the same movement,” he says. “We’re restoring the maritime heritage collectively.”

Governance Efforts

This past July, Tikoure visited the French city to present a “Traditional understanding of the marine environment” when he had discussions with Macron and additional officials.

Addressing official and international delegates, he advocated for collaborative ocean management based on local practices and local engagement.

“We must engage them – especially those who live from fishing.”

Modern Adaptation

Currently, when sailors from various island nations – from Fiji, Micronesia and New Zealand – visit Lifou, they analyze boats in cooperation, modify the design and finally voyage together.

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

Holistic Approach

For Tikoure, instructing mariners and promoting conservation measures are linked.

“The core concept concerns public engagement: who has the right to travel ocean waters, and who decides what happens there? Heritage boats function as a means to start that conversation.”