Sarikecili Nomads

For nearly a thousand years, the Sarıkeçili Yörüks have preserved their nomadic way of life across the mountains and plains of southern Türkiye. Every year, families migrate between the high plateaus of Konya and the Mediterranean coast of Mersin, covering nearly 1,200 kilometers on foot. Today, only 287 Sarıkeçili families remain, continuing a tradition that has survived generations despite modern pressures and changing lifestyles.

Among them is the Atar family, who spend the summer months in a small goat-hair tent on the slopes of Gölbelen Plateau at an altitude of 2,300 meters. Their simple home, warmed by a wood fire, reflects a life deeply connected to nature and livestock. Ali Atar, who was born in a tent and now raises more than 200 goats, met his wife Gülizar while herding animals in the mountains. Their story, like many among the Yörüks, is intertwined with the rhythms of migration and pastoral life.

Although challenges such as limited grazing lands, school access, and bureaucratic restrictions make migration increasingly difficult, the Sarıkeçili remain committed to their heritage. They avoid permanent settlement and continue to pass their culture on to their children, who grow up learning to care for animals rather than spending time with digital devices. For these nomads, the tent, the goats, and the open road remain at the heart of their identity.