You, me, we, Tatreez
How do we hold our individual and collective grief about world events? How can we possibly hold our grief in ways that transform our grief for good?
Over some months in 2024, I got to know Hana Alnajjab. Hana has family ties to Hebron and the villages of Ramallah. Her identity, values and outlook are influenced by and reflect the lived experience of the Palestinian diaspora, migration and being a settler on unceded Aboriginal lands.
We asked ourselves what we could do as an act of resistance and solidarity that could feel life-giving, as the ongoing war grinds on with so much suffering in her homeland and region.
We came up with a workshop that celebrates Tatreez - an ancient Palestinian embroidery practice. Master embroiderer, Australian-Palestinian Adla Hijazi led the tuition with ally and friend Diana Abdel-Rahman. Traditionally a practice by women, the event opened the circle to include men.
It was a special intergenerational event; purpose-driven to connect and raise funds for emergency and hospital care.
Thank you to all involved.
Savannah
“The workshop helped me connect with my culture as a Palestinian-Australian, and connect to other Palestinian-Australians and other people in my community who I could talk with and feel at home with… At this time when things have been so difficult and so full of grief and disconnection, it has been really nice to find new connections.
“I enjoyed being around some lovely Palestinian people and feeling solidarity with Palestine, doing the stitching and designs that have been around for thousands of years as has their culture. So thank you, thank you.”
Peter
“The workshop made me feel so much less alone.”
Jess