With few more than 1,200 inhabitants, the tiny South Pacific nation of Niuernis fighting a battle familiar to many indigenous groups-to preserve traditional knowledge before it is irretrievably lost. One such tradition is the making of their distinctive vaka, or wooden canoe. Almost lost due to the introduction of imported dinghies and their accompanying outboard motors in the 1960s and '70s, the skills required to build the sleek one-man vaka have received a significant boost during the past 20 years due to the dedication of a few men. Initially fed by a need for an economical means for individual fishermen to reach inshore fishing grounds, and more recently via a revival in vaka racing, the growth in demand for vaka has steadily grown over the past decade.
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