"All Things Palestinian Canadian" Podcast

In this episode, we’re joined by Najat El-Taji El-Khairy, a Palestinian-Canadian artist who has created a unique art form combining her interests in both embroidery and porcelain painting. Najat’s art has been exhibited in various venues throughout North America, the Middle East and Europe. Najat has made it her mission to immortalise, protect and preserve the art of Palestinian embroidery. As she describes it, she’s, ‘Painting her way home, one stitch at a time.’ Links: Find Najat’s Website here and her Instagram account here; and see a collection of Najat’s amazing artwork here.  Order Najat’s book, Palestinian Heritage … Worth Celebrating!, from the Musée des métiers d'art du Québec (MUMAQ) here. See Najat’s full written responses to CJPME’s podcast questions. Subscribe to this podcast, and donate to CJPME to support the work that we do. Continue reading

In this episode, we’re joined by Wafa Ghnaim, an award-winning Palestinian researcher, educator and author living in Washington, DC. Her book, titled, Tatreez and Tea: Embroidery and Storytelling in the Palestinian Diaspora was published in 2018 and documents the stories and meanings behind the Palestinian embroidery motifs that were handed down to Wafa by her mother, Feryal Abbasi Ghnaim, an award-winning artist herself.  Join us as Wafa shares the story of moving from embroidery circles with her mother and aunts, to being the first ever Palestinian embroidery instructor at the Smithsonian Museum.    Links: Wafa’s Tatreez and Solidarity Website, https://www.tatreezandtea.com/ Buy Wafa’s book, Tatreez and Tea Article about Wafa Ghnaim in Vogue Magazine Subscribe to this podcast, and donate to CJPME to support the work that we do. Continue reading

As we launch our first ATPC episode for 2023, we note that we sadly said goodbye to Nur Watad in December, as she made the decision to move on to new career challenges elsewhere. But we are thrilled to have lined up a very articulate and capable new co-host in the meantime, Ms. Rafeef Dajani. Rafeef has been a friend to CJPME for several years, and more importantly, an ardent participant in the global Palestine solidarity movement. So this is our chance to introduce Rafeef, and have her talk a bit about her journey up until this point.  Continue reading

In this episode, we’re joined by Rana Nazzal, a Palestinian-Canadian artist living between Palestine, Ottawa and Toronto. Among other things, Rana’s powerful art explores Palestinians’ relationship with the land, and the themes of Palestinian memory and loss.  In addition to her art, she is also an activist and campaigner on grassroots issues including not only Palestinian human rights, but also climate change, Indigenous rights, and more. Join us as we talk to Rana about her art, and how it’s an expression and extension of her activist roots and passion.  And Rafeef Dajani joins ATPC to co-host her first podcast. Continue reading

In this episode, we’re joined by Fida Jiryis, Palestinian author currently living in Ramallah.  Jiryis grew up in Lebanon and Cyprus, the daughter of famed Palestinian thinker and leader, Sabri Jiryis.  As her family fled Israel’s oppression and wars, Jiryis’ life has spanned the full spectrum of the Palestinian people’s forced fragmentation: in Israel, the West Bank and the diaspora. Her writings include several collections of Arabic short stories; a contribution to the book, Kingdom of Olives and Ash, a Washington Post bestseller; and Amputated Tongue, an anthology of Palestinian literature. Her most recent book, Stranger in My Own Land describes her and her family’s remarkable life journey which is, in many respects, the story of Palestine.    Our lead host, Nur Watad was unable to be present, so ATPC’s backup host, Thomas Woodley, interviewed Ms. Jiryis. Continue reading

In this episode, we’re joined by Rimah Jabr, a Palestinian play wright and theatre director based in Toronto who is currently pursuing her PhD in Theatre and Performance Studies at York University.  Rimah’s career arc is far from ordinary: after studying and working in accounting for several years, Rimah finally had her breakout opportunity at age 30, and found herself at Belgium’s Royal Institute for Theatre, Cinema & Sound.  There, while she earned her Masters degree, she wrote and directed a number of plays.  With her late start, Rimah is making up for lost time with an ambitious vision which includes her most recent co-production, “Broken Shapes,” with visual Artist Dareen Abbas, which premiered earlier this month and runs through Dec. 4th at The Theatre Centre in Toronto!  Continue reading

In this episode, we are joined by Wafa Alzaghal, Palestinian-Canadian President & CEO of The Canadian Arabic Orchestra. Wafa grew up playing the Qanun, also known as the dulcimer, after being inspired by his father’s love for classical Arabic music. Wafa co-founded the Canadian Arabic Orchestra in 2014, and has been busy touring Canada with a repertoire of both Western and Eastern tunes. Join us for a conversation with Wafa to hear about his motivation to establish the Canadian Arabic Orchestra, and his experiences presenting to Canadian audiences.   Continue reading

In this episode, we are joined by Dalia Elcharbini, Palestinian-Canadian contemporary artist and international exhibitor based in Toronto. While Dalia’s artistic style is distinct and unique, she frequently infuses it with symbolism and memories of Palestine.  Listen in as we discuss her art, her inspiration, her Palestinian identity and her efforts to use art to help children impacted by war. Continue reading

In this episode, we are joined by Serene Husni, a video editor, mentor, writer and translator. A Diasporic Palestinian and immigrant from Jordan turned Canadian settler, she calls herself “a displaced human existing between multiple cultures, languages, and locales.” She creates most of her own work in her mother tongue, Arabic. Freely available to watch online, her latest film “Brown Bread & Apricots” (2020) talks about the importance of the pantry in her father’s exiled Palestinian family. The film won the Qayrub Award for “Best Canadian Short Film” from the Toronto Arab Film Festival in 2022. She is also co-writer and co-editor of the recent feature documentary Eulogy for The Dead Sea (2022), directed by Polina Teif. Serene holds an MFA in Documentary Media from the Toronto Metropolitan University. Continue reading

In this episode, we are joined by Saeed Teebi, a writer and lawyer based in Toronto who has recently released a highly celebrated book of short stories entitled, “Her First Palestinian.”  Teebi’s book is a collection of stories about diaspora Palestinians struggling to find their place as immigrants to Canada.  It is also one of five books shortlisted for the $60,000 Atwood Gibson Writers' Trust Prize for Fiction this year.  The title story in the book, "Her First Palestinian," was also shortlisted for the 2021 CBC Short Story Prize.  Teebi was born to Palestinian parents in Kuwait and has lived in Canada since 1993. Continue reading