Isabelle Merle, a research director at the CNRS, is a historian specializing in the colonization of the Pacific region, particularly New Caledonia. In her book “Colonial Experiences: New Caledonia (1853-1920)” (Belin, 1995, reissued by Anarcharsis in 2020), she examines the experiences of the “little Whites” who settled in New Caledonia on confiscated lands. More recently, she co-authored “The Indigenous Regime. Genesis in the French Empire. Practices in New Caledonia” (CNRS Éditions, 2019) with Adrian Muckle. The current crisis in New Caledonia is bringing back memories of French colonization.
The history of New Caledonia is a sensitive subject due to the trauma of colonization, which has been ongoing since France took possession of the archipelago in 1853. From then until a circular sent by Prime Minister Pierre Messmer in 1972 calling for immigration to dilute the weight of the pro-independence vote, the Kanak people have faced challenges. They fear being diluted and marginalized in their own country. However, the expansion of the provincial electoral body, promoted by the government, challenges the restricted electoral body principle established in the Noumea Accord (1998) and breaks the promises made to the elders.
The Kanak people have inhabited New Caledonia for three thousand years, with their ancestors originating from Southeast Asia and migrating through islands. New Caledonia is a Melanesian country, similar to Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, and parts of Fiji. When British navigator James Cook landed on the Grande Terre in 1774, an estimated 100,000 people lived on the archipelago. The Kanak people are horticulturists with gardens, rooted in one place but also mobile, moving with their fallow fields. The arrival of the first Europeans destabilized this world, spreading diseases and causing a rapid decline in the native population, similar to the impact in the Americas.
The conquest of New Caledonia by France is a historical process that began with the arrival of Europeans, who established a presence through colonization and the introduction of Christianity. The French colonization of New Caledonia evolved as a result of economic and strategic interests, leading to the imposition of French rule over the indigenous population. The legacy of colonization still resonates in present-day New Caledonia, with ongoing tensions between the indigenous Kanak people and the French settlers. France’s control over New Caledonia has been a contentious issue, fueling ongoing debates over autonomy and independence.
The current crisis in New Caledonia reflects the complex and troubled history of colonization on the island. The legacy of French rule and the continued struggle for self-determination by the Kanak people shape contemporary politics and social dynamics in the region. The clash between indigenous rights and the legacy of colonization continues to be a central issue, as the people of New Caledonia navigate their identity and future within the context of their colonial past. Isabelle Merle’s research sheds light on the historical and ongoing challenges faced by the Kanak people, highlighting the importance of understanding and addressing the lasting impact of colonization on New Caledonia.
