Local traditions and culture in New Caledonia

The relative wealth and the number of jobs generated by New Caledonia's nickel-mining industry have attracted lots of migrants here from France's two Polynesian colonies: French Polynesia (aka Tahiti) and Wallis & Futuna.
Most of these Polynesians have settled in and around Noumea.
While they live a non-traditional lifestyle here, Wallisians often dress up in traditional garb (as on the photo) when travelling between Wallis and New Caledonia, and Tahitians often perform their famous dances both for tourists and at local festivals.

Like in the rest of the South Pacific, the Church has a strong influence on the life of New Caledonia, too. Two-third of the population is Catholic, and churches are busy on Sundays.
If you catch a major religious ceremony like the one on this photo I came across in Koumac, you are in for a rather colorful event!
As a side-note, New Caledonia's churches are some of the finest in the Pacific architecturally.

Festivals offer a unique chance to see traditional costumes and dances of the Kanak.
Interestingly, these are not usually performed for tourists, except in a few places regularly visited by cruise ships.
If you are interested in catching an authentic festival, start by asking at all three provincial tourism offices in Noumea, and also keep your eyes open while travelling around the country - upcoming events are often advertised on big banners.

Nothing sums up the honest nature of the Kanak people better than the charming little roadside stalls selling fruit, shells and handicrafts throughout the Kanak inhabited areas of Grande Terre, especially along the North-East coast.
These simple little sheds display a few items for sale along with the prices (usually very low), and a small box where you put your money.
The system seems to work here - nowhere else in the Pacific have I come across it though.

While no match for the fantastically varied art forms found in Papua New Guinea or even Vanuatu, the Kanak do have their own, distinctive styles of carving.
It is still seen decorating traditional homes and is occassionally available for sale, though the best examples are to be found in museums these days.

Traditional Kanak houses, or "case" are unique in the South Pacific, often reminding savy visitors more to villages of Africa.
They have a round floor-plan and a tatched, conical roof, and often carvings on the top and flanking the doorways.
Such tribal architecture remains commom in the north-east of Grande Terre and the Loyalty Islands, though these dwellings will almost always stand alongside more modern homes in a village.
You can actually stay in such houses here!

Much like reunion Island in the Indian ocean New Caledonia reamains part of France therfore the offical language is French. Before you come it could do you much good to learn a bit of the language, otherwise you could take a wonferful course in the french language whilst on the island.
If your interested in doing this check out
www.crepac.com

If you are invited to stay in the home of a Kanak family as a visitor, it is customary and appropriate to donate 200 francs or so. This will seem very small compared to the incredible reception you will get--as I said on the intro page, the Kanak people are the friendliest I met anywhere in the Pacific Islands.