Nomadism, settlement and everyday life: Place and narrative among Sarıkeçili

This anthropological research investigates the ways in which the Sarıkecili Yoruks formed relationships with aspects of their environment central in their everyday life, thereby clarifying the process of creating the 'place' and how they narrate and recollect the 'place'. I have observed daily practices of the yoruk, examined their beliefs and manners as revealed in narratives, as well as their interactions with animals and people in order to understand the connection of yoruk with place. I have also focused on the strategy and associated behaviors yoruks have developed to protect their nomadic heritage in a constantly changing environment. Fieldwork done between June 2009 and April 2011, I have combined participant-observation and interview techniques. Fieldwork was designed to enable me to personally observe and experience every season of yoruk life. I have observed Sarıkecili Yoruks in both their summer and winter habitats. In winter they reside in towns and districts of Mersin. During summers they occupy the high plateaus of Karaman and Konya. Complete participation in all phases of their spring migration and almost all of their fall migration gave me a comprehensive perspective on nomadic life-style. To supplement fieldwork among Sarıkecili Yoruks, I have also done a research with yoruks residing in Sarıevler settlement housing in Karaman, with sedentary yoruks living in the neighborhood of Esentepe and in villages established after 1800s by Sarıkecili Yoruks in Konya Çumra. Such comprehensive fieldwork allows me to facilitate analysis of their perception of 'place' from diverse viewpoints and understand their transition from black tents to houses. This dissertation focused on interpreting key symbols of nomadic life; including tents, goats, camels and migration routes while touching on the analysis of key symbols (metaphors) embedded in popular yoruk narratives. Yoruk nomadic life is oriented around movement and flexibility and only partially understood without considering native paradigms. I have aimed to comprehend the bond of yoruk with nomadic life for which they fight to maintain despite pressures to change. Key words: Sarıkecili, Nomadic Pastoralism, Mersin, Konya, Karaman, Yoruk, Yoruk Festivals, Place, Narrative, Tradition.