Filiz Hilmi was born in Toronto, Canada in 1974. Her parents migrated to Canada in 1973 due to the residual effects of the intercommunal violence between Greek and Turkish Cypriots. In 2024, she appeared on the HHF Presents podcast series, Cyprus: An Island Divided as a representative of the Turkish Cypriot diaspora in Canada. In both this interview and the podcast, Filiz provides perceptive insights into how the various generations understand the Cyprus issue differently.
[00:00:03] Biographical and familial background
[00:01:27] Her parents living among Greek Cypriots
[00:04:06] Her parents migrating to Canada due to tensions
[00:10:10] Similarities between Turkish and Greek Cypriots
[00:15:46] Assimilation versus maintaining Cypriot heritage
[00:23:05] Similarities between the Cypriot dialects
[00:28:26] 1974 and Turkey's control over the north
[00:34:01] Communication with family in Cyprus
[00:36:35] Involvement with Turkish Cypriot groups in Canada
[00:41:34] Audiovisual documentation
[00:42:53] Secular nature of Turkish Cypriot life
[00:45:33] Importance of social media and cuisine
[00:49:24] Generational differences, re: ethnic conflict
[00:56:29] Connection with Cypriot heritage
[00:59:57] Hopes for the future of Cyprus
.png)
.png)
