Cultivation of pandanus on Maré
The Pandanus Project
In the Loyalty Islands of New Caledonia, namely on the island of Maré, Elisabeth and André Wiako wish to revive the ancestral traditions. The Kanak couple, both members of the Keawatine tribe in the north west of the island, decided do start growing 40 Pandanus plants.
What is pandanus used for ?
The pandanus mat is a strong symbol in Kanak culture :
- One welcomes a distinguished guest on a pandanus mat and offering a mat establishes and strengthens the bond of solidarity. The offering of a mat is also a gesture of reconciliation
- Pandanus crafts, hats, bags and all kinds of basketry are sold in Noumea.
- Traditional hut roofs are covered with coconut leaves or pandanus and traditional sails are woven from pandanus fibres.
- It is also used in food and traditional medicine.
- Pandanus is also environmentally beneficial to these islands, helping to support and hold in place coastal soils subjected to cyclones, as well as softening the harsh ocean winds.
After being dried, the leaves are woven. Traditional basketry has thus regained its place in customary practices.
Why support Elisabeth ?
With this plantation, Elisabeth wishes to revive the Kanak tradition of pandanus cultivation and thus :
– reconnect with the traditional art,
– safeguard the custom and its gestures,
– preserve the species,
– fight against the importation of this plant, encouraging the support of local growers.
– cultivate while respecting the environment, without fertilisers or pesticides.
Which foundations support this projects?
Initially, Elisabeth and Andre’s goal is to plant 500 + shrubs of different varieties, then to take cuttings to increase the number of plants to up to 1000.
Aidocean support and offer assistance to the “Pandanus à Maré” project.
Update 08th March 2023:
A beautiful day ☀️, yesterday, on the island of Maré where Elisabeth and André Wiako were able to take delivery of the equipment purchased thanks to a grant from the New Zealand Consulate in Nouméa. A big thank you 🤗 to the NZ Consulate in New Caledonia, French Polynesia and Wallis & Futuna for this invaluable help to the “Pandanus” project that we support.
Thank you also 🤩 to Ducos Quincaillerie, ESQ Noumea and Evénement SARL for their commercial gesture.
Thanks to them, Elisabeth and André’s working conditions will greatly improve.
Update 20 August 2023 :
The Pandanus project continues to move forward. Elizabeth and André recently applied for a grant and this was the opportunity to create a logo and a video to present the project!
Very soon, they will be flying off to Polynesia, and we’ll be telling you more about that very soon. The tools purchased with the support of the New Zealand government are enabling the couple to work in better conditions.
2023 was a year of change for the ‘Pandanus de Yvy’ association. Find out more in this article.
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