Kanak Cultural Heritage on Colonised and Damaged Lands

This chapter – co-authored by two Kanak knowledge holders (a clan chief and a singer-songwriter) and two European researchers (from political science and geography) – discusses how Kanak communities deal with cultural heritage in the present, in a context of colonial legacies, institutional conservatism and depleting natural resources. We focus specifically on the communities of Bako and Touaourou in Paicî Cèmuhi and Drubea-Kapumë countries, respectively. We first analyse colonial policies of land dispossession and cultural oppression, as well as the ongoing inadequate support for Kanak languages from school institutions. We then discuss the ways in which grassroots initiatives testify to resilient and resurgent spaces for Kanak languages and cultural heritage in such contexts, by taking the example of (1) the work of the Agency for the Development of Kanak Culture (ADCK) to record oral histories, myths and toponyms as important identity markers and (2) Kaneka music as a contemporary transmitter of Kanak languages and cultural practices. In addition to the collection of toponyms in Kanak communities, Kaneka music is popular amongst young people and elders. Bands such as Humaa-gué from Touaourou provide songs engaging with colonial history, Kanak cultural life and practices, the mining industry and current sociopolitical issues. We draw the conclusion that the educational institution responds inadequately to Kanak needs, and initiatives undertaken by Kanak people at the grassroots level are key to the continuance of Kanak languages, cultural heritage and practices.