<p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-youtube">
<span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="9461d9e2dbe735d2ca33c78e13dd134b"><iframe type="lazy-iframe" data-runner-src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vnvI6V-TtLs?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span>
<small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="Add Photo Caption...">Maori All Blacks Haka at sold-out BC Place in Vancouver</small>
<small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="Add Photo Credit...">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnvI6V-TtLs" target="_blank">www.youtube.com</a>
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</p><p>The intensity of the haka is the point. It is meant to be a show of strength and elicit a strong response—which makes seeing a tiny toddler learning to do it all the more adorable. </p><p>Danny Heke, who goes by <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@focuswithdan" target="_blank">@focuswithdan on TikTok</a>, shared a video of a baby learning haka and omigosh it is seriously the most adorable thing. When you see most haka, the dancers aren't smiling—their faces are fierce—so this wee one starting off with an infectious grin is just too much. You can see that he's already getting the moves down, facial expressions and all, though. </p><div class="rm-embed embed-media"><blockquote cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@focuswithdan/video/6892850058484665601" class="tiktok-embed" data-video-id="6892850058484665601" style="max-width: 605px;min-width: 325px;"> <section> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@focuswithdan" target="_blank" title="@focuswithdan">@focuswithdan</a> When you grow up learning haka! <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/haka" target="_blank" title="haka">##haka</a> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/teachthemyoung" target="_blank" title="teachthemyoung">##teachthemyoung</a> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/maori" target="_blank" title="maori">##maori</a> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/m%C4%81ori" target="_blank" title="māori">##māori</a> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/focuswithdan" target="_blank" title="focuswithdan">##focuswithdan</a> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/fyp" target="_blank" title="fyp">##fyp</a> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/foryou" target="_blank" title="foryou">##foryou</a> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/kapahaka" target="_blank" title="kapahaka">##kapahaka</a><br> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/original-sound-6892850048208587521" target="_blank" title="♬ original sound - Focuswithdan">♬ original sound - Focuswithdan</a> </section> </blockquote> <script async="" src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js"></script></div><p>As cute as this video is, it's part of a larger effort by Heke to use his TikTok channel to share and promote Maori culture. His videos cover everything from the Te Reo Maori language to traditional practices to issues of prejudice Maori people face. </p><p>Here he briefly goes over the different body parts that make up haka:</p><div class="rm-embed embed-media"><blockquote cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@focuswithdan/video/6906626420303318273" class="tiktok-embed" data-video-id="6906626420303318273" style="max-width: 605px;min-width: 325px;"> <section> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@focuswithdan" target="_blank" title="@focuswithdan">@focuswithdan</a> Māori culture Part <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/1" target="_blank" title="1">##1</a> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/maori" target="_blank" title="maori">##Maori</a> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/m%C4%81ori" target="_blank" title="māori">##māori</a> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/focuswithdan" target="_blank" title="focuswithdan">##focuswithdan</a> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/culture" target="_blank" title="culture">##culture</a> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/aotearoa" target="_blank" title="aotearoa">##aotearoa</a> Music credit: @just2maori <br> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/Ngati-6904863261917726722" target="_blank" title="♬ Ngati - Just2maori">♬ Ngati - Just2maori</a> </section> </blockquote> <script async="" src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js"></script></div><p>This video explains the purerehua, or bullroarer, which is a Maori instrument that is sometimes used to call rains during a drought.</p><div class="rm-embed embed-media"><blockquote cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@focuswithdan/video/6889321367766879490" class="tiktok-embed" data-video-id="6889321367766879490" style="max-width: 605px;min-width: 325px;"> <section> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@focuswithdan" target="_blank" title="@focuswithdan">@focuswithdan</a> Reply to @sad.animevibes Some tribes used this to call the rains during drought 🌧 ⛈ <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/maori" target="_blank" title="maori">##maori</a> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/m%C4%81ori" target="_blank" title="māori">##māori</a> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/focuswithdan" target="_blank" title="focuswithdan">##focuswithdan</a> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/fyp" target="_blank" title="fyp">##fyp</a><br> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/P%C5%ABrerehua-6889321353669888770" target="_blank" title="♬ Pūrerehua - Focuswithdan">♬ Pūrerehua - Focuswithdan</a> </section> </blockquote> <script async="" src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js"></script></div><p>This one shares a demonstration and explanation of the taiaha, a traditional Maori weapon.</p><div class="rm-embed embed-media"><blockquote cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@focuswithdan/video/6888886375353994498" class="tiktok-embed" data-video-id="6888886375353994498" style="max-width: 605px;min-width: 325px;"> <section> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@focuswithdan" target="_blank" title="@focuswithdan">@focuswithdan</a> Reply to @shauncalvert Taiaha, one of the most formidable of the Māori Weaponry <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/taiaha" target="_blank" title="taiaha">##taiaha</a> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/maori" target="_blank" title="maori">##maori</a> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/m%C4%81ori" target="_blank" title="māori">##māori</a> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/focuswithdan" target="_blank" title="focuswithdan">##focuswithdan</a> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/fyp" target="_blank" title="fyp">##fyp</a> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/foryou" target="_blank" title="foryou">##foryou</a><br> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/original-sound-6888886339178154753" target="_blank" title="♬ original sound - Focuswithdan">♬ original sound - Focuswithdan</a> </section> </blockquote> <script async="" src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js"></script></div><p>For another taste of haka, check out this video from a school graduation:</p><div class="rm-embed embed-media"><blockquote cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@focuswithdan/video/6904726254008749313" class="tiktok-embed" data-video-id="6904726254008749313" style="max-width: 605px;min-width: 325px;"> <section> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@focuswithdan" target="_blank" title="@focuswithdan">@focuswithdan</a> When your little cuzzy graduates and her school honours her with a haka <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/maori" target="_blank" title="maori">##maori</a> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/m%C4%81ori" target="_blank" title="māori">##māori</a> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/haka" target="_blank" title="haka">##haka</a> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/focuswithdan" target="_blank" title="focuswithdan">##focuswithdan</a> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/fyp" target="_blank" title="fyp">##fyp</a> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/graduation" target="_blank" title="graduation">##graduation</a> @its_keshamarley <br> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/Te-Kura-Kaupapa-M%C4%81ori-o-Ng%C4%81ti-Ruanui-6904726231351118594" target="_blank" title="♬ Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Ngāti Ruanui - Focuswithdan">♬ Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Ngāti Ruanui - Focuswithdan</a> </section> </blockquote> <script async="" src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js"></script></div><p>Heke even has some fun with the trolls and racists in the comments who try to tell him his culture is dead (what?). <br></p><div class="rm-embed embed-media"><blockquote cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@focuswithdan/video/6920837823880908034" class="tiktok-embed" data-video-id="6920837823880908034" style="max-width: 605px;min-width: 325px;"> <section> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@focuswithdan" target="_blank" title="@focuswithdan">@focuswithdan</a> Credit to you all my AMAZING FOLLOWERS! <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/focuswithdan" target="_blank" title="focuswithdan">##focuswithdan</a> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/maori" target="_blank" title="maori">##maori</a> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/m%C4%81ori" target="_blank" title="māori">##māori</a> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/followers" target="_blank" title="followers">##followers</a> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/fyp" target="_blank" title="fyp">##fyp</a> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/trolls" target="_blank" title="trolls">##trolls</a><br> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/original-sound-6887667115986406149" target="_blank" title="♬ original sound - sounds for slomo_bro!">♬ original sound - sounds for slomo_bro!</a> </section> </blockquote> <script async="" src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js"></script></div><p>Unfortunately, it's not just ignorant commenters who spew racist bile. A radio interview clip that aired recently called Maori people "genetically predisposed to crime, alcohol, and underperformance," among other terrible things. (The host, a former mayor of Auckland, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/7NEWSsydney/posts/4369967079694058" target="_blank">has been let go</a> for going along with and contributing to the caller's racist narrative.)</p><div class="rm-embed embed-media"><blockquote cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@focuswithdan/video/6922260331762896130" class="tiktok-embed" data-video-id="6922260331762896130" style="max-width: 605px;min-width: 325px;"> <section> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@focuswithdan" target="_blank" title="@focuswithdan">@focuswithdan</a> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/newzealand" target="_blank" title="newzealand">##newzealand</a> radio in 2021 delivering racist commentaries 🤦🏽♂️ <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/m%C4%81ori" target="_blank" title="māori">##māori</a> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/maori" target="_blank" title="maori">##maori</a> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/focuswithdan" target="_blank" title="focuswithdan">##focuswithdan</a> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/racism" target="_blank" title="racism">##racism</a> DC: @call.me.lettie2.0 <br> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/original-sound-6921848770695154433" target="_blank" title="♬ original sound - Call.me.lettie">♬ original sound - Call.me.lettie</a> </section> </blockquote> <script async="" src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js"></script></div><p>That clip highlights why what Heke is sharing is so important. The whole world is enriched when Indigenous people like the Maori have their voices heard and their culture celebrated. The more we learn from each other and our diverse ways of life, the more enjoyable life on Earth will be and the better we'll get at collaborating <span></span>to confront the challenges we all share. <br></p>From Your Site Articles
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