Flag of New Caledonia

New Caledonia officially uses two flags: the French tricolor and the flag of the independence movement, the FLNKS. The French flag was first raised on the territory of New Caledonia on September 24, 1853. It happened during the expedition of French Admiral Auguste Febvrier-Despointes, who officially declared New Caledonia a French colony on behalf of Napoleon III. Since then, there has been only one French flag on the territory, but on July 13, 2010, everything changed. As part of an agreement between supporters of independence and supporters of the link with France, it was decided that the territory of New Caledonia would be officially represented by two flags. Namely, the Kanak flag, representing the FLNKS (“Front de Libération Nationale Kanak et Socialiste”) independence movement, which became one of the symbols of the struggle of the indigenous population of New Caledonia (Kanaks) for autonomy and independence. This flag was adopted in 1984 and only in 2010 received the status of an official flag along with the French flag. However, not all communes in New Caledonia supported this decision, but most of them now fly both flags, while the rest fly only the French tricolor.

Meaning of the symbolism of the flag of New Caledonia

• The blue stripe symbolizes the sky and ocean surrounding the islands;
• The red stripe represents the struggle for freedom and the blood shed in the process;
• The green stripe represents the land, the wealth of natural resources and the connection to the homeland;
• The yellow circle symbolizes the sun, and the black totem is an important element of Melanesian culture that symbolizes the spirituality and culture of the Kanak people.

The Kanaks are the indigenous people of New Caledonia who use the flag of the FLNKS independence movement, the main and important element of which is the totem (flèche faîtière). 

The flèche faîtière is a carved spear that adorns the roofs of houses, including the houses of chiefs in Kanak communities. It serves as a home for ancestral spirits and their connection to the modern community.

The flashlight is made of wood and consists of three key components:

• Ancestral faces: A face topped with a crown is carved in the center of the spear, symbolizing the figure of the ancestors;
• The Voice of the Ancestor: This is a long, rounded pole, often decorated with shells, which are believed to convey the voice of the ancestors;
• Protective spikes: Sharp-pointed wooden spikes extend on either side of the central figure, designed to ward off evil spirits and protect the spiritual integrity of the house.

The flèche has both cultural and religious significance, as it represents not just one ancestor, but a community of all ancestors who are believed to guide and protect their descendants.

History of the flag of New Caledonia

In 1774, the British explorer James Cook, known for his travels in the Pacific Ocean, arrived on the islands and gave them the name “New Caledonia” because of the similarity of the landscapes to his native Scotland (Caledonia is the Latin name for ancient Scotland).
However, in the middle of the nineteenth century, namely in 1853, French troops officially annexed New Caledonia, turning it into a penal colony for the detention of criminals and political prisoners. This annexation was accompanied by the massive displacement of the indigenous population and the seizure of their fertile lands by the colonists. Already in the early twentieth century, social tensions arose between the indigenous population and European settlers, which eventually escalated into a struggle for independence.
The indigenous people of New Caledonia, the Kanaks, repeatedly rose up against the French occupation. One of the largest uprisings took place in 1878, during an attempt to unite the tribes against French troops, which was brutally suppressed, thousands of Kanaks died, but the struggle for sovereignty continued.
In 1984, in response to years of oppression and disenfranchisement, the Front for the National Liberation of the Kanaks and Socialists (FLNKS) became the leader of the independence movement. One of the symbols of this movement was the blue-red-green FLNKS flag, which was first raised during political demonstrations and protests. 
In 2010, a decision was made to officially use two flags - the French tricolor and the Kanak FLNKS flag. However, this decision sparked heated debate. For supporters of independence, the Kanak flag became a symbol of hope and resistance to colonialism. For others, including European immigrants, the French tricolor remained a sign of stability and connection to France. This decision reflected a split in society that led to three independence referendums in 2018, 2020, and 2021:

• 2018: In the first referendum, 56.7% of voters decided to remain part of France. Turnout was high, with more than 81% of voters participating, and the results showed a significant split: indigenous communities overwhelmingly supported independence, while people of European descent favored remaining part of France;
• 2020: The second referendum showed a narrowing of the gap: 53.26% voted to remain with France. Turnout was even higher at 85.6%. Although the gap narrowed, it highlighted the ethnic and regional divisions in New Caledonia: the northern and island provinces favored independence, while the southern, more economically prosperous region opposed it;
• 2021: The third and final referendum, held under controversial conditions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, saw a significant drop in turnout (43.90%). The overwhelming majority (96.49%) voted against independence, but this was due to a boycott by the Kanak community, which criticized the timing of the vote in the context of the pandemic.

Despite all the referendums held and attempts to determine the future of the archipelago, the question of independence remains open to many Kanaks.