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In October on the island of Lifou, a traditional twin-hulled vessel was set afloat in the lagoon – a seemingly minor event that represented a highly meaningful moment.

It was the inaugural voyage of a traditional canoe on Lifou in generations, an event that brought together the island’s main family lineages in a uncommon display of togetherness.

Mariner and advocate Aile Tikoure was the driving force behind the launch. For the last eight years, he has overseen a program that works to resurrect ancestral vessel construction in New Caledonia.

Dozens of canoes have been constructed in an initiative intended to reunite local Kanak populations with their maritime heritage. Tikoure states the boats also help the “beginning of dialogue” around ocean rights and conservation measures.

International Advocacy

In July, he travelled to France and met President Emmanuel Macron, calling for ocean governance created in consultation with and by native populations that recognise their maritime heritage.

“Our ancestors always crossed the sea. We lost that for a while,” Tikoure explains. “Today we’re reclaiming it again.”

Canoes hold deep cultural significance in New Caledonia. They once represented mobility, interaction and family cooperations across islands, but those traditions declined under foreign occupation and outside cultural pressures.

Tradition Revival

This mission began in 2016, when the New Caledonia cultural authorities was considering how to restore heritage vessel construction methods. Tikoure partnered with the government and two years later the vessel restoration program – known as the Kenu Waan initiative – was born.

“The biggest challenge was not cutting down trees, it was persuading communities,” he notes.

Initiative Accomplishments

The Kenu Waan project sought to revive heritage voyaging practices, train young builders and use boat-building to reinforce cultural identity and island partnerships.

Up to now, the team has created a display, issued a volume and facilitated the creation or repair of around 30 canoes – from the far south to the northeastern coast.

Natural Resources

Different from many other island territories where deforestation has diminished lumber availability, New Caledonia still has proper lumber for constructing major boats.

“In other places, they often work with synthetic materials. In our location, we can still craft from natural timber,” he says. “It makes all the difference.”

The boats constructed under the initiative combine oceanic vessel shapes with Melanesian rigging.

Teaching Development

Starting recently, Tikoure has also been teaching seafaring and heritage building techniques at the educational institution.

“For the first time ever these topics are taught at graduate studies. It goes beyond textbooks – it’s something I’ve lived. I’ve crossed oceans on these canoes. I’ve cried tears of joy doing it.”

Island Cooperation

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

“From Hawaii to Rapa Nui, including our location, this represents a unified effort,” he explains. “We’re restoring the maritime heritage together.”

Policy Advocacy

In July, Tikoure journeyed to the European location to introduce a “Traditional understanding of the sea” when he conferred with Macron and additional officials.

Addressing official and overseas representatives, he advocated for cooperative sea policies based on Indigenous traditions and community involvement.

“You have to involve local populations – particularly those who live from fishing.”

Current Development

Now, when navigators from throughout the region – from Fiji, the Micronesian region and New Zealand – arrive in Lifou, they examine vessels in cooperation, adjust the structure and finally voyage together.

“It’s not about duplicating the traditional forms, we enable their progression.”

Holistic Approach

In his view, educating sailors and advocating environmental policy are connected.

“The fundamental issue involves how we involve people: what permissions exist to navigate marine territories, and who determines what occurs there? The canoe is a way to initiate that discussion.”