History related to New Caledonians

Their ancestors immigrated from Southeast Asia about 5,000 years ago. When European colonists invaded in the 18th century, there were about 80,000 people divided into more than 30 tribal groups. At that time, society was in the stage of disintegration of the primitive commune system, and class differentiation was obvious. In 1853, the island was occupied by the French and became a penal colony for criminals. After the discovery of nickel, chromium, copper, cobalt, iron and other mineral deposits on the island, French free immigration increased and a large number of foreign workers were attracted. The local residents were marginalized and enslaved, and they rose up to resist many times. The largest uprisings in 1878 and 1917 were both brutally suppressed and massacred by the colonial authorities. In addition, many people died from diseases brought by Europeans, resulting in a sharp decline in the population, with survivors less than half of the original 80,000 people. Most of these people were squeezed into the northern areas, while those who stayed in the south were enclosed in reservations. Most of the land was occupied by colonists and resources were plundered. New Caledonians now account for only 27% of the colony's population, and its traditional economy and culture have been destroyed.

In addition to growing corn and taro for their own consumption, they must also grow commercial crops needed by the colonists, such as sugar cane, coconuts, coffee, cotton, and rice. Some were forced to work on plantations and mines. The ethnic characteristics of New Caledonian clothing are no longer obvious, and they mostly wear modern clothing. In the past, daily necessities were rare and can now only be seen at the Ethnological Museum of Noumea, the capital. Many people are fluent in French, and 4% have French citizenship.