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

It was the inaugural voyage of a traditional canoe on Lifou in living memory, an event that united the island’s primary tribal groups in a exceptional demonstration of solidarity.

Seafarer and campaigner Aile Tikoure was behind the launch. For the past eight years, he has led a program that seeks to restore ancestral vessel construction in New Caledonia.

Many heritage vessels have been built in an initiative intended to reunite native Kanak communities with their oceanic traditions. Tikoure states the boats also promote the “opening of discussions” around ocean rights and environmental policies.

International Advocacy

In July, he journeyed to France and met President Emmanuel Macron, pushing for ocean governance developed alongside and by local tribes that honor their maritime heritage.

“Our ancestors always traveled by water. We abandoned that practice for a period,” Tikoure says. “Today we’re reclaiming it again.”

Traditional vessels hold significant historical meaning in New Caledonia. They once represented travel, trade and family cooperations across islands, but those traditions faded under foreign occupation and missionary influences.

Tradition Revival

His journey started in 2016, when the New Caledonia government’s culture department was considering how to bring back ancestral boat-making techniques. Tikoure partnered with the authorities and after two years the boat building initiative – known as the Kenu Waan initiative – was established.

“The biggest challenge didn’t involve harvesting timber, it was gaining local support,” he explains.

Program Successes

The Kenu Waan project aimed to restore traditional navigation techniques, mentor apprentice constructors and use vessel construction to reinforce community pride and island partnerships.

Up to now, the organization has organized a showcase, issued a volume and enabled the construction or restoration of approximately thirty vessels – from the far south to the northeastern coast.

Material Advantages

Different from many other Pacific islands where tree loss has reduced timber supplies, New Caledonia still has appropriate timber for carving large hulls.

“Elsewhere, they often work with marine plywood. Here, we can still craft from natural timber,” he says. “This creates a significant advantage.”

The boats created under the initiative merge oceanic vessel shapes with regional navigation methods.

Teaching Development

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

“This marks the initial occasion this knowledge are included at master’s level. This isn’t academic – it’s something I’ve experienced. I’ve sailed vast distances on these vessels. I’ve felt overwhelming happiness doing it.”

Regional Collaboration

He traveled with the members of the Fijian vessel, 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 states. “We’re taking back the maritime heritage collectively.”

Policy Advocacy

In July, Tikoure visited the European location to present a “Indigenous perspective of the ocean” when he had discussions with Macron and additional officials.

Addressing official and foreign officials, he argued for collaborative ocean management based on local practices and participation.

“We must engage them – most importantly people dependent on marine resources.”

Contemporary Evolution

Currently, when mariners from throughout the region – from Fiji, the Micronesian region and New Zealand – visit Lifou, they study canoes together, refine the construction and finally voyage together.

“We’re not simply replicating the ancient designs, we help them develop.”

Comprehensive Vision

In his view, instructing mariners and promoting conservation measures are connected.

“The fundamental issue involves public engagement: who is entitled to travel ocean waters, and what authority governs what happens there? The canoe function as a means to start that conversation.”