Who are the Circassians?

  

This is the question I am usually asked if I ever mention that I am a Circassian. there are few people in the Caucasus, except and academics' whom specialized in Western world whom know of the Circassians and their history, they are largely a forgotten people. Although their history lives on, you will find no place called ‘Circassia’ on any contemporary map. The Circassians (who call themselves "Adyghe"or "cherkess") are an ancient people of the Northwest Caucasus region located in modern day Russia. Current divided into three main republics of the Circassian federation (Kabardino Balkaria, Karachay-Cherkessia and Adygheya). Only a few remaining Circassians live in their divided traditional fatherland. The rest having spread to various countries following the Circassian Diaspora of the Russian Circassian wars of the late 18th to mid-19th centuries.
The word "Circassian" is the English equivalent of the Turkic "Cherkess". Their language belongs to the North-West of the Caucasian family of languages. It's unusual phonological system.

  

http://ideas.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/06/14/genocide-and-the-sochi-olympics/ scp=2&sq=circassians&st=nyt                   

there are few people in the Western world who know of the Circassians and their history