Kanak

/ kəˈnæk /

noun

1. a native or inhabitant of New Caledonia who seeks independence from France

Word History and Origins

Origin of Kanak¹

C20: from Hawaiian: man

Example Sentences

It began earlier this week over a bill proposed by Paris that would extend voting rights in local elections to all citizens who have been residents of New Caledonia for 10 years—something opponents say would risk diluting the influence of the indigenous Kanak, who make up about 40% of the territory’s population of nearly 300,000.

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The Front de Libération Nationale Kanak et Socialiste, the main pro-independence group, appealed for calm in a statement Wednesday.

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And that means respecting their own people, including the Kanak.”

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Levanque said she understood why the Kanak were protesting, but she condemned the violence that had followed.

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The riots were triggered more than a week ago by efforts in Paris to pass legislation that would extend voting rights in local elections to all citizens who have been residents of New Caledonia for 10 years, something opponents say would risk diluting the influence of the indigenous Kanak, who make up about 40% of the territory’s population of nearly 300,000.

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