Origin and history

With the colonial settlements expanding on Grande Terre as from 1858, the colonial administration was no longer in capacity to ensure protection from the military outposts to the colonial settlers . Instead it started allocating lands, just making sure that natives were not occupying them. In 1867 this expansion could not be furthered without infringing on the native territory. The native landholding was then defined as a result. On 24th December 1867 Governor Guillain's administration defined "tribes". On 22 nd January 1868 it was decided to allow a territory to them, deemed to be a collective inalienable ownership. Founded on "a fiction , the tribe"(A.Saussol) and on the lack of understanding of the clans territory management, the concept of "reserves" was born. It became a source of spoliation and destabilisation but it protected some territory for the Melanesians and has been lasting until now.

Bounding natives land

From 1868 until 1870 reserves boundaries were defined in relation to some clans in the South (St. Vincent) and in the Diahot Valley in the North. There the reserves created were for the "rebels"; the Tchambouenne, the Ouebias, the Maloumes, Tiendanous and the "ally" Diahoué, Balade et Pouébo. These reserves gave more lands to the European settlers but created a case of far reaching consequences.

In 1871, in order to accelerate the colonizing settlements, the administration of Gaultier de la Richerie created an "occupation permit". It was enabling to use the land before defining its boundaries. While intending to avoid encroachment on the natives lands, the administration was unable to prevent them and the permits led to excess and occupations. In 1875 The Governor set a committee which was charged to put this matter in order. It proved to have little efficiency and had to be reorganized, in particular with the regulation of 6 March 1876 "which actually was only confirming the rule of 1868" (A.Saussol). New boundings were undertaken in Houaïlou, Canala et La Foa. By reducing more and more the natives territory they became the seeds ofthe 1878 rebellion .

The "cantonment" of 1897

After 1878 which led to confiscating lands of the rebels, and having realized its upsetting effects, the administration became more careful over bounding natives lands .

However towards 1893 the need for more land was again increasing. Governor Feillet wanted land for its colonizing great scheme. The colonial administration, finding that the native's population was diminishing, believed that additional space was becoming available and started cutting again the reserves areas. On 23 November 1897 the administration regulated that it had the right to appropriate tribal lands and to confine tribes by regrouping them through displacement of populations. Some groups were even moved several times. Land was appropriated against ridiculously small compensation. From 1898 to 1900 "spoliation decisions came one after the other "(A.Saussol). They reduced the existing reserves. Chiefs were also invited to accept giving land away. As a compensation they were pledged inalienable land titles on territories where they were confined.

These cantonment excesses eventually alerted French Metropolitan people. A committee for defense and protection of New Caledonian natives was created in 1901. It published a pamphlet denouncing the spoliation. These pressures forced the local administration to limit the most outrageous aspects of its politic.

The colonial administration was later on led to proceed to the reserves enlargement in order to alleviate pressure on overpopulated territories. These enlargements progressed as from the 1920's. They generalized and grew during the 1950's and 1960's but they were not quite in tune with the fast growth of the Melanesian population. However other changes lowered the demographic pressure such as the increase of land ownership and rentals by Melanesian people, their emigration to cities, their employment progress and finally the changing nature of the reserves. These were becoming more residential lands than territories of autarkic economy.

The "cantonment" consequences

The morale crisis which hit the Melanesians after 1878 helped limit their reaction. In some instances they even volunteered to be confined with the hope to get guaranteed, inalienable and stable reserves.

The natives territory had diminished by 60% in 1902. It shrunk still but more moderately until 1920. Theoretically the administration believed to have provided enough space per Melanesian family but it had failed to take into account the size of lands required for the crop long rotations practice and the insufficient quality of soils in the new territories. The natives had consequently to modify their crop growing techniques.

The cantonment upset their tradition order, scattering the Melanesian world and destroying the parental order of the clan. Residence in reserves areas had become compulsory and groups became isolated, not unlike ghettos, while the precolonial Melanesian society had a complex relationship and traditional path communication system between clans which worked well despite the partitioning of a mountainous land. Their forced isolation lasted until the end of world war II and split the New Caledonian society in two sides, European and Melanesian. Such split had lasting consequences until now.

Reserves outcome

The reserve outcome is contrasted.

Reserves were hindering the Melanesian integration and adaptation to the modern world. Defined without knowing the real territory of each clan, without understanding the traditional organization and regrouping various clans sometimes foes, they changed hierarchical orders and traditional relationship. Insufficient in soils quality and space they generated the extension of cash crops.

Reserves had however a positive effect in protecting natives from dereliction which could have resulted from excessive or complete land spoliation. They helped protect their identity, some major features of their tradition and their many languages.