Honouring the Kanaky Uprising: Two Years Since May 13, 2024
This piece is a collaboration between Treaty Before Sports, Rata and Free Kanaky Solidarity Naarm.
Photos from Free Kanaky Solidarity Naarm and Treaty Before Sports social media.
Leaders and supporters of Kanaky's struggle for self-determination are marking the second anniversary of the Kanaky Uprising, which began on May 13, 2024, in response to ongoing french colonial rule and proposed electoral reforms widely opposed by Kanak freedom fighters.
The May 13 uprising followed a strong multi-century history of anti-colonial resistance to french settler-colonial occupation in Kanaky and has been met with brutal repression by colonial occupying forces.
This video below is a message and callout by Uncle “Coco” Wayne Wharton from the Woomera Sovereign Union, Treaty Before Sports, and Rata, which pays tribute to those who lost their lives during the uprising and recognises the long history of Kanak resistance to settler-colonial occupation.
In 2024, Uncle Coco led the first Aboriginal solidarity delegation to visit Kanaky after the uprising began.
The delegation followed in the footsteps of earlier Aboriginal activists, including Dr Gary Foley and other First Nations representatives who travelled to Kanaky in previous decades to build solidarity between Indigenous struggles for sovereignty and self-determination.
Dawany Kanaky. Always Was, Always Will Be. Long live May 13 in Kanaky. 🇳🇨
Resource extraction and ongoing colonial violence
Central to the struggle in Kanaky is the fight against colonial control over the Kanaky's vast natural resources. Kanaky land holds approximately a quarter of the world's known nickel reserves. Nickel is a key component in stainless steel production and battery manufacturing, with around 9 per cent of the world's nickel processed from extractive industries in Kanaky.
Despite this mineral wealth, the majority of profits generated by the industry continue to benefit french and multinational interests rather than Kanak communities. The environmental consequences of intensive mining operations, including damage to waterways and marine ecosystems that Indigenous communities rely upon.
Environmental concerns intensified in 2025 when mining operator Prony Resources proposed modifications to infrastructure that land defenders warned could increase the risk of mining waste entering protected marine reserves. The same year, sulphur dioxide emissions reportedly exceeded levels considered hazardous for vegetation. Sulphur dioxide can combine with water and oxygen in the atmosphere to form sulphuric acid, a major contributor to acid rain.
As the second anniversary of the May 2024 uprising passes, the movement continues to remain part of a broader struggle for decolonisation, self-determination, and control over land and resources.
A risk of genocide
The following text is from the Free Kanaky Solidarity Naarm campaign: https://chuffed.org/project/112521-free-kanaky
“Kanaky, also known by its colonial name New Caledonia, is a group of islands situated to the north-east of so-called Australia. It has been under french occupation since 1853. The french state wants to keep this colony to continue exploiting its natural resources (nickel) and due to its geo-strategic position in the Pacific.
In May 2024, the Kanak people began a pro-independance uprising. The revolt was met with extreme violence from the french colonial forces. White settlers organised themselves into militias to 'defend' settler neighbourhoods, harassing, following and shooting at Kanak people in the streets - with very few consequences.
There is now a risk of genocide of the Kanak people.
As in so-called Australia and all settler-colonies, Kanak people make up the majority of incarcerated people (99%) and are maintained in poverty through colonial structures.
Recently, the situation has worsened: there has been a significant rise in Kanak unemployment, a lack of basic necessities and some areas have been cut off by police roadblocks, resulting in severe shortages. The food and health crIsis will will only worsen in coming weeks.
The money we raise will be given to Kanak grassroots organisations we are in contact with, who will redistribute it to communities and local Kanak groups.
Support the Kanak people's fight! Free Kanaky!”
Support the campaign: https://chuffed.org/project/112521-free-kanaky
Follow Free Kanaky Solidarity Naarm on social media
Video Transcript
Coming soon.