Kafkasya'da kadim Türk yurtlarından birisi olan Ahıska bölgesi, bugün Gürcistan sınırları içerisinde bulunmakta olup, Gürcü ve Ermenilerle meskundur. Zira yüzyıllar, belki binyıllardır bu bölgede yaşayan Ahıska Türkleri 1944'te bölgeden çıkarılmış ve çeşitli ülkelere sürgüne gönderilmişlerdir. Bu çalışmada önce Özbekistan'a, oradan Rusya'nın Krasnodar şehrine sürülen ve nihayet buradan da Amerika'ya göç eden Ahıska Türklerinden ABD'nin Colorado bölgesinde yaşayan Ahıskalıların sosyal, kültürel ve ekonomik hayatı incelenmiştir. Bu incelemeyle vatanından topluca sürülmüş ve tekrar göç etmek zorunda kalmış bir Türk topluluğunda meydana gelen toplumsal değişmeler izlenmeye çalışılmıştır. Araştırma, Colorado bölgesinde, daha çok Denver çevresinde yerleşmiş bulunan 75 hane Ahıska Türkü arasında altı ay kalınarak yapılmıştır. Araştırma kapsamında gerekli nitel ve nicel veriler etnografik gözlem ve anket yöntemiyle elde edilmiştir. Beş, altı yıldır Colorado'da yaşayan Ahıskalı Türk topluluğunun hızla ekonomik hayata entegre olduğu gözlemlenmiş, sosyal ve kültürel anlamda ise sürecin daha zor olacağı tespit edilmiştir. Yeni kuşakta ana dilin korunması, dini inançların ve geleneksel yaşama tarzının devamı gibi konular en can alıcı konular olarak öne çıkmaktadır. Toplumsal değişmenin özellikle yeni kuşaklar üzerinde, geçen zamanla doğru orantılı olarak, daha etkili olacağı anlaşılmıştır. Anahtar Kelimeler: Ahıska Türkleri, Denver, Ekonomik Sosyal Durum, Kimlik, Kültür, Asimilasyon, Sürgün, Diaspora. ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL LIVES OF THE TURKISH COMMUNITY OF AHISKA ORIGIN IN USA-COLORADOAbstract The Ahiska region that hosts an ancient homeland for Turks in Caucasia is situated within Georgia and largely populated by Georgians and Armenians today. Ahiska Turks used to live in this region for hundreds if not thousands of years until 1944 when they were forced to leave the region for various places. This study focuses on social, cultural and economic aspects of the Ahiska Turks currently living in Colorado, the USA. These people chose to immigrate to the USA after they were first exiled to Uzbekistan and then to the Russian city of Krasnodar. Attempts were made during this study to track social transformations that a whole society of Turks underwent after they were forced to leave their homeland and relocate somewhere else. This study was conducted in Denver, Colorado, over a period of six months with 75 households of Ahiska Turks. Any necessary qualitative as well as quantitative data were obtained through ethnographic observations and surveys. This study reveals that the Ahiskian Turks living in Colorado for five or six years have made a quick switch to the economic life over there; however, it is estimated that it will be much more difficult to make such a switch both socially and culturally. The new generation is strongly obsessed with issues such as the preservation of the mother tongue and the permeation of religious beliefs as well as traditional way of life. It is thought that social transformation at issue will be increasingly affecting the new generation in particular as the time progresses. Key Words: Ahiska Turks, Denver, Economic-Social Status, Identity, Culture, Assimilation, Exile, Diaspora.

The Ahiska region that hosts an ancient homeland for Turks in Caucasia is situated within Georgia and largely populated by Georgians and Armenians today. Ahiska Turks used to live in this region for hundreds if not thousands of years until 1944 when they were forced to leave the region for various places. This study focuses on social, cultural and economic aspects of the Ahiska Turks currently living in Colorado, the USA. These people chose to immigrate to the USA after they were first exiled to Uzbekistan and then to the Russian city of Krasnodar. Attempts were made during this study to track social transformations that a whole society of Turks underwent after they were forced to leave their homeland and relocate somewhere else. This study was conducted in Denver, Colorado, over a period of six months with 75 households of Ahiska Turks. Any necessary qualitative as well as quantitative data were obtained through ethnographic observations and surveys. This study reveals that the Ahiskian Turks living in Colorado for five or six years have made a quick switch to the economic life over there; however, it is estimated that it will be much more difficult to make such a switch both socially and culturally. The new generation is strongly obsessed with issues such as the preservation of the mother tongue and the permeation of religious beliefs as well as traditional way of life. It is thought that social transformation at issue will be increasingly affecting the new generation in particular as the time progresses.