Comments by "Taine Donovan" (@tainedonovan4983) on "HIGHLIGHTS | Māori All Blacks v Japan XV 2024" video.

You have lived in a sheltered world then, we don't live in a world where you can only be one or the other....lots of us have Māori blood in us therefore we are of both European and Māori descent. Just because it's not physically obvious to you doesn't mean we are going to ignore our own blood and Whakapapa....It's also not rocket science as to why mixed race people exist.....
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@celtic1916 Blood Quantum is a Colonial Concept that isn't applied in Māori culture...if Māori DNA runs through the veins of someone who has white skin no matter the Percentage they are Māori, if one can also Whakapapa it and trace their iwi they are Māori, I personally meet both criterias yet people could walk past me on the street and not know. It's not a joke...for a very very long time now plenty of people share this same story it's just becoming more known these days because we are not shying away from our indigenous heritage like our parents, grandparents and great grandparents did in public which was sadly due to the prejudice views of society. It's something that is being embraced rather than hidden in today's world and is why we are seeing mixed race lads selected in this Māori Allblacks side.
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As explained earlier on blood quantum is a Colonial Concept, that's where it stems from at its core, a lot of other countries use that measurement system to form their criterias by only going as far back as grandparents which gatekeeps people from representing their heritage, it narrows the pool of players to choose from, it makes a clear distinction of those who have stronger blood ties to that nation but this conversation wasn't about other countries who use that to form eligibility criterias this was about the eligibility of Māori Allblacks with white skin, which comes back to another point I made which was that the blood quantum concept isn't applied in Māori culture, the criteria that stands is that all players must have Māori whakapapa or genealogy confirmed in order to represent the side. Which means that all men in the Māori Allblacks have provided the ancestral proof required to be eligible for selection, it's not about DNA percentages but rather ancestral descent.... It's a concept based on connection to the Māori Culture through tūpuna (Ancestors) and not a percentage of blood.
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This conversation as per this comment thread is about white skin Māori Allblacks and why people with white skin are able to be in the Māori Allblacks... it is about one country's uniquely indigenous rugby team with a uniquely indigenous view on eligibility....I read your original comment, I've read everything you are writing...your logic is disregarding or at least not factoring the Māori World View which doesn't apply blood quantum measurements in the eligibility criteria to be a Māori Allblack or to just be Māori. It's about connection to the culture through Ancestors and not about Blood, it's an indigenous team with people who share a connection to the Māori Culture through having Whakapapa, it's not based on Blood percentage...
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This comment proves my point: "No if you are 96% European and 4% Maori, then your DNA makeup is predominantly European. Hate to break it to you, but that is how it works in any country around the world" blood quantum is a Colonial Concept that is used to determine how much of a race someone is, Māori don't use this to determine if someone is Māori. But if you want to go there though Māori blood even a small amount mixed with European blood still means someone is mixed race and is both Pākehā and Māori.
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No you still aren't getting it, you are using blood quantum to make your point.... this is like talking to a brick wall I've actually also stated a point that aligns with what you said about why other countries use higher blood concentration by only going as far as grandparents which shows the use of the colonial concept in criterias around the world and it wasn't comprehended by you ...so I'm making this my last comment... Māori don't use that as a way to determine if someone is Māori we use Whakapapa and our ancestors, it is also viewed that someone who has a smaller amount of Māori blood is still Māori it's part of who we are, it is in our veins.. Making it sound like these players who have been selected are 1% or under to back your statements of disagreement is being disingenuous... even though it has already been explained to you that Māori don't measure by blood quantum, these men who are criticized by your views on eligibility will have at minimum a blood percentage that is either 6.25% or 3.125% ( 1/16 {2X Great Grandson} or 1/32 {3X Great Grandson} ) that is Māori blood running through their veins therefore they or anyone for that matter who has Māori blood is viewed as Māori but even if they were under 1% they would still be considered Māori based on their Whakapapa and Iwi... Its a cultural concept that goes far deeper than DNA makeup which brings me to my next point which is that your views and disagreement on the Māori Allblack eligibility criteria that is determined by the Māori World View; are clearly a result of a lack of cultural understanding it's not about "privilege" it is about the very simple fact that we are talking about an indigenous team with indigenous values that determine the eligibility criteria that are just not being understood by yourself and others... I've tried to explain it to you, I've jumped in because there is a lack of understanding of the fact that this is an indigenous thing if you will , for an indigenous team that is not a traditional international side they don't follow traditional eligibility rules regarding DNA percentages... They go on the Māori World View...it's not my "own spin" it's how it is viewed collectively in Māori culture and yet it's just not sinking in after explaining it repeatedly.... (Edit: Apparently that is "arguing with myself" as is boldly claim below lol) so.... There is no point engaging in this any further.
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