Sisters in film, Rawan Ramini and Jada-Gabrielle Pape were brought together for the film, From Salish Sea to Palestine. The joined Blueprints to talk about their use of the medium to make connections between movements, and tell the 'true stories' of their people.

Ultimately though, it is a discussion on what really builds solidarity.

The most obvious connections between Palestinians and Indigenous Peoples' in so-called Canada are that of colonialism and occupation. Rawan highlights so many of the shared tactics of land displacement, ethnic cleansing and of course, genocide that tie their fights together.

Despite shared mechanisms of oppression, Rawan and Jada's work serves as a reminder this ultimately, not what should define them and their people.

More on our guests:

1. Rawan Hassan, Palestinian filmmaker and mother of two. She Directed, wrote and co-produced the Documentary Series: Ana Falastini
2. Jada-Gabrielle Pape, wu’Was’welam, is Xwelmuxw Mestuyuxw: Saanich and Snuneymuxw Nations. She is the Director of From the Salish Sea to Palestine, and the co-founder of Drawing Wisdom. She also Drawing Wisdom Video Podcast, and is part of the Team at Courage Consulting.

Hosted by: Jessa McLean

Produced by: Santiago Helou Quintero

Call to Action: Help Fundraise for a Full Length Feature Film

Related Episodes:

1. Filmmaking Resistance (April 2024) Pier-Philippe Chevigny, writer-director of 'Richelieu', discusses how he uses his skills in filmmaking to shed light on social issues
2. Canada's Colonial Imagination (October 2023) Tyler Shipley on the ways our view of the genocide of Indigenous peoples here STILL shapes how Canada interacts with the world.

More Resources:

• More on the Film 'From the Salish Sea to Palestine'
• Ana Falastini Trailer (VIDEO)
• Ana Falastini Canada Wide Tour

All of our content is free - made possible by the generous sponsorships of our Patrons. If you would like to support our work through monthly contributions: Patreon

Despite court rulings saying they could stay, the Region of Waterloo has spent considerable effort trying to remove people living at the 100 Victoria Street encampment in Kitchener.

Aaron, from KW Fightback talks about the conflicts the Region, the Police and even social workers instigate to try to push residents out. From the denial of services, a carceral approach and continued court battles, activists have had their hands full organizing to defend the rights of their unhoused neighbours.

The discussion is about the community that exists at the encampment, and the deliberate choices 'authorities' are making to punish anyone surviving in ways that defy the capitalist model.

Hosted by: Jessa McLean

Produced by: Santiago Helou Quintero

Call to Action: Sign Petition to Demand a Public Camping By-Law

Related Episodes:

1. Rabble Rant: Housing Half Measures (Sept 2023) On Waterloo Outdoor Shelter 'Community'
2. Resisting Toronto's Tactics Against the Unhoused (Sept 2024) Organizers with Voices for Unhoused Liberation share what they're doing to fight encampment evictions and against the war on the poor.
3. Voices for Unhoused Liberation (May 2024) On strategy building, the limitations of advocacy work and the need for escalated direct actions.

More Resources:

• The Regional Municipality of Waterloo v. Persons Unknown and to be Ascertained – 2025 Litigation – Waterloo Region Community Legal Services
• Region ordered not to evict people from homeless encampment
• Bay Observer: Waterloo Shelter Formula
• Statement: FightBack @ 100Vic Full Time

All of our content is free - made possible by the generous sponsorships of our Patrons. If you would like to support our work through monthly contributions: Patreon

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Two Toronto based Legal Observers from the Orange Hats return to give us details on the tactics Toronto Police are using to try to bring down the Palestinian Solidarity Movement.

Tasked with keeping an eye on cops during protests and other actions, Gisela and Leon have lots of stories to tell. Together the group recently issued a 2025 Year-In-Review on Toronto Police Services conduct at protests. The report includes statistics on injuries and arrests; it warns of trends in policing; and it points to a clear strategy to suppress the activities of activists - and legal observers.

Its not all bad news. Thanks to their experience, the Orange Hats are a great source of advice for organizers and activists - or anyone coming into contact with Police.

Hosted by: Santiago Helou Quintero and Jessa McLean

Produced by: Santiago Helou Quintero

Call to Action: Support Legal Observers - Donate to the Orange Hats

REGISTER FOR ONLINE COURSE: Documenting Protests - Feb. 25 @6pm ET

Related Episodes:

1. Watching Cops: Advice for Activists (Feb 2025) The Orange Hats share how to stay safe at protests, and the tactics Toronto police use to harass, intimidate and brutalize activists
2. Exposing Toronto Police Tactics (Sep 2025) Activist and journalist Benjamin Nolan on the Toronto Police Services' violent responses to peaceful protests and their use of the knee-on-neck technique.

More Resources:

• Inside the ‘shocking’ police operation targeting pro-Palestine activists in Toronto - The Breach
• Police Chief Plays Loose with the Truth on Radio Call-in Show - The Grind Magazine
• What is Strategic Incapacitation – Orange Hats

Be sure to catch all our content, including articles and resources for activists, on our SUBSTACK.

All of our content is free - made possible by the generous sponsorships of our Patrons. If you would like to support our work through monthly contributions: Patreon

Follow us on Instagram or on Bluesky