The Sunday Paper Podcast

The Colonisation of Souls: Ep3 - Healthcare

This is the third episode in a series of on the ground reports from Kanaky brought to you by Sunday Paper reporter Mell Chun. In this episode, Mell speaks to Muneiko Haocas, president of the National Sovereign Independence Movement, as well as their secretary general, Chrystele Marie. The National Sovereign Independence Movement or MNIS is a pro-independence party established in 2019. MNIS have been working on the ground with poor communities in the settler dominated southern provinces. Working class areas, especially those with large Kanak populations, have become increasingly disenfranchised due to industry, tourism and colonial policies. This episode was made on stolen Kanak Land and stolen Kulin Land. Sovereignty was never ceded and colonial violence continues in both these places, as does Indigenous Resistance. A special thanks to Free Kanaky Solidarity Naarm [https://www.instagram.com/freekanakysolidarity.naarm/?hl=en] for translation and advice during the production of this series. And to producer Alain Lecante from Mangrove Productions for providing permissions for the music. In this episode you heard the track Justice Coloniale by Waan The Sunday Paper podcast is independent, not for profit and listener supported. Matt Chun is our executive producer. This episode was made with production assistance from Preeshita Shah. The Sunday Paper podcast is recorded, edited and produced by Mell Chun. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thesundaypaperpodcast.substack.com/subscribe [https://thesundaypaperpodcast.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

The Colonisation of Souls: Ep2 - Feminism

This is the second episode in a series of on the ground reports from Kanaky brought to you by Sunday Paper reporter Mell Chun. In this episode, Mell attends a picnic, and speaks to Oriane Trolue, a feminist with decolonial politics. She is also a member of the pro-independence Oceanian movement (MOI) and is the World March of Women’s (MMF) national coordinator for Kanaky. This episode was made on stolen Kanak Land and stolen Kulin Land. Sovereignty was never ceded and colonial violence continues in both these places, as does Indigenous Resistance. A special thanks to Free Kanaky Solidarity Naarm [https://www.instagram.com/freekanakysolidarity.naarm/?hl=en] for translation and advice during the production of this series. And to producer Alain Lecante from Mangrove Productions for providing permissions for the music. In this episode you heard the track Kanaky Libre by Humaa-Gue, composed by Chanel Ouetcho. The Sunday Paper podcast is independent, not for profit and listener supported. Matt Chun is our executive producer. The Sunday Paper podcast is recorded, edited and produced by Mell Chun. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thesundaypaperpodcast.substack.com/subscribe [https://thesundaypaperpodcast.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

The Colonisation of Souls: Ep1 - Checkpoints

In September 2025, reporter Mell Chun spent 10 days in Kanaky, reporting on the French state’s suppression of the Kanak people following the uprising of May 2024, as well as their continued resistance and Independence movement. In this first episode of the series, Mell sets the scene, describing the atmosphere of state control and talking to fixer Marie* about checkpoints, police violence and the legacy of settler colonialism. If you want to learn more about Kanaky and show your support, follow Free Kanaky Solidarity Naarm [https://www.instagram.com/freekanakysolidarity.naarm/?hl=en] on instagram You can also donate to FKSN’s Chuffed campaign here [https://chuffed.org/project/112521-free-kanaky], which goes toward food, medical supplies and legal representation for the Kanak people. The Sunday Paper and Podcast remain not for profit, independent and listener and reader supported. This episode was made on Kanak Land and Kulin Land. These lands were invaded, stolen and remains under occupation. Colonial violence continues, as does Indigenous Resistance. A special thanks to Alain Lecante from Mangrove Productions for permission to use the track Ma Kanaky by Gayulaz And to Franscisco Bagwan for his song ‘Pasifika Rising’ You also heard a Kanak Song and Dance by the group We Ca Ca Matt Chun is our executive producer. The Sunday Paper Podcast is compiled, mixed and edited by Mell Chun. *”Marie”is a pseudonym given to our fixer and her voice has been disguised for this story. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thesundaypaperpodcast.substack.com/subscribe [https://thesundaypaperpodcast.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

Kanaky: History and Context (Repeat)

Before we launch into our new series on Kanaky, we wanted to replay this episode from November last year. It provides some important historical context for the coming series. This episode has been edited for brevity, but all references and statistics are from 13 months ago. Mell talks to Grand Chief Sinewami, King of Gureshaba, about the Kanak people’s fight for independence from France. Joining the conversation also is Cathy from Free Kanaky Solidarity Naarm. If you want to learn more about Kanaky and show your support, follow Free Kanaky Solidarity Naarm [https://www.instagram.com/freekanakysolidarity.naarm/?hl=en] on instagram You can also donate to FKSN’s Chuffed campaign here [https://chuffed.org/project/112521-free-kanaky], which goes toward food, medical supplies and legal representation for the Kanak people. The Sunday Paper and Podcast remain not for profit, independent and listener and reader supported. This episode was made on Ngunnawal, Ngambri and Wurundjeri land. This land was invaded, stolen and remains under occupation. Colonial violence continues, as does Indigenous Resistance. Our theme music was made by DOBBY You also heard the track ‘Kirikitr Reggae’ by Kirikitr and a Kanak Song and Dance by the group We Ca Ca Matt Chun is our executive producer. The Sunday Paper Podcast is compiled, mixed and edited by Mell Chun. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thesundaypaperpodcast.substack.com/subscribe [https://thesundaypaperpodcast.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

New Series Coming Soon

In September this year Sunday Paper reporter Mell Chun spent 10 days on an island in the South Pacific which you may have heard called New Caledonia. This is the land of a Melanesian people called The Kanaks who were violently colonised by France in 1853 and remain under French occupation today. In May 2024, a new French Law sparked a Kanak uprising and brutal suppression by the French military in which many Kanaks were killed, jailed and deported. Since then, discrimination against the Kanak people has intensified in every sphere of life that the colony controls. Healthcare, housing, work rights, transport, education and the justice system. … The Sunday Paper Podcast is produced on Wurundjeri land, this land was invaded, stolen and remains under occupation. Colonial violence continues, as does Indigenous Resistance. A special thanks to Free Kanaky Solidarity Naarm [https://www.instagram.com/freekanakysolidarity.naarm/?hl=en] for translation, research and advice And to Francisco Bhagwan for permission to use the track ‘Pasifika Rising [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmwQodmrxTg]’ in this piece. The podcast is compiled, mixed and edited by Mell Chun. Matt Chun is our Executive Producer. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thesundaypaperpodcast.substack.com/subscribe [https://thesundaypaperpodcast.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]