By GARRET ROBINSON
Staff Writer
Recently, New Caledonia, a French overseas territory, held a referendum on whether they should become an independent nation or not, and they rejected independence from France. New Caledonia became a French colony in 1853 and there had been many occasions in the past with the indiginous population, Kanacks, trying to free themselves from French rule. Even after the decolonization period following WWII France still held onto their south pacific territory, but they still supplied the island with money for defense and education. New Caledonia’s Kanack people make up less than half of the island’s population with the others consisting of Europeans and other Pacific Islanders which may have swayed the vote in favor of staying with France. However, due to violence in the 80s, New Caledonia and France signed a plethora of agreements for the autonomy of the territory. They are allowed three referendums for their independence, with the last one happening in in 2022 so until then the future of New Caledonia is unknown
