Dodo

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eg5Mlq-B-Ks

The provided transcript focuses primarily on the current livelihood and environmental conditions of the village of Qerqozax, rather than its ancient history or tribal composition. The narrative captures a specific moment in time—a harsh winter day—and centers on an interview with a local resident named Raşîd, who works as a fisherman.

The village is situated near a significant body of water which serves as a primary economic resource. According to Raşîd, he is one of only two people from Qerqozax who fish permanently, although people from surrounding villages and the city of Efrîn travel there seasonally, particularly in spring and summer, to fish. The environment is described as unusually cold; Raşîd notes that while snow is common in the highlands (zozan), it has not snowed in this specific location for thirty-eight years, marking this winter as exceptionally severe.

The waters around Qerqozax are home to several specific types of fish, identified by Raşîd as Bûrî, Kerb, Karsîn, and Beraq. He recounts that the biodiversity of the water was formerly much richer, but changes in the water conditions have caused many species to disappear, leaving only four or five varieties. The economy of this trade is local and direct; buyers call or travel from Efrîn to purchase the catch. Prices are set by size, with small fish selling for 500 and large fish for 1000. Raşîd expresses a strong sense of stewardship over the water, criticizing unsustainable fishing practices by outsiders who use nets that waste small or damaged fish. He emphasizes that he and others have been trying to protect the area for several years to ensure the fish population does not deplete further.

Toward the end of the transcript, a narrator provides a crucial geographical distinction regarding the village's identity. There are, in fact, two villages sharing the name. The first is Qerqozaxa Biçûk (Little Qerqozax), which is distinctly known by the alternative name Derwêş. The second is Qerqozaxa Mezin (Big Qerqozax). This indicates a settlement pattern likely born from expansion or administrative division, though the transcript cuts off before detailing the specific founding dates or the tribal origins of the families living in either section.

THE VILLAGE OF DODÊ

4.1.2016

The village of Dodê is one of the Meydana villages in the Reco district of the Efrîn canton. It is located 18 km north of the city of Reco and 53 km north of the city of Efrîn.

The Meydana villages consist of seven villages:

Gewanda, Welîkê, Gazê, Kurê, Miskîtê, Sêmala, and Dodê.

The village of Dodê is located on the Golê plain of Meydana. The name of the village comes from the meaning (dudo) or two, because it is the second village from both the east and west sides among the Meydana villages.

88

There are 6 families in the village of Dodê:

The family of Mihemedê Dedo was the first family to settle in the village, the family of Dedo, Mistî, Heso, Mihler, Hecî Elî, and the family of Qêdir. Most of the families are from the Şêxî tribe.

To the north of the village are the Behîvê mountain and the border of Northern Kurdistan. To the east is the village of Gewanda, to the south is the Meydana plain, above which is the Qerbêl mountain or the Reş mountain. Opposite the village to the south is Şeqîfe, which is like an ancient Roman town, and its traditions are still apparent today. To the west are the village of Welîkê and the Meydana plain.

The Meydana plain has a length of 1000 m by 500 meters, meaning its area is around 500,000 meters. It is all vegetable and fruit orchards and trees and plants.

The AVÊ spring is to the south of the village. It is a spring that was built by the French and its water still exists today. Shepherds water their flocks from it.

The shrine of ((Şêxmûs)) is to the south of the village. People used to visit there for illness and the fulfillment of wishes, and now it has become a burial ground or the village cemetery.

Bîra Xanî is an ancient well to the south of the village.

There are nearly 50 houses and more than 700 people from the village, and many people have settled in the town of Mîdan Ebez and the city of Efrîn.

89

The villagers make their living from agriculture, like most of the region's villages. Primarily, it is the cultivation of olive groves, and secondly, the cultivation of vineyards. Therefore, this area is famous for grapes and their products, such as benî, bastiq, qirme, miwîj, and dims, and they sell these products in the markets of Reco and Efrîn.

Along with grapes and olives, many people plant and care for pistachio trees, and there are also many cherry trees.

Along with agriculture, some families own livestock such as sheep, goats, and cows, and their products like milk, yogurt, cheese, lorik, firo, and strained yogurt are sold in the canton's markets.

Nearly 10 people work in various departments in the institutions and agencies of the Autonomous Administration.

There are 3 martyrs in the village:

Ş. Demhat, Xwînrij, and Ş. Ronahî.

The village commune is named after Ş. Demhat.

During the French rule, Hisên Nasir, also known as Kêl Hiso, disarmed 3 French militiamen in an incident. Later, French soldiers came and bombed the village with airplanes. This was around the year 1937.

The level of education in the village is good, therefore more than 50 people have obtained university degrees in various fields, and many people have also completed vocational and high school education.

90

It is worth noting that the 7 villages of Meydana have become like one village, or like a large and modern town built on a wide plain, and in the future, it will become a developed city.