An estimated 200,000 lived in Par iba alone. After five centuries of invasions, only approximately 5,000 Potyguara today remain in 18 villages on a constitutionally protected reservation in Para ba and Rio Grande Do Norte. The Potyguara people continue to be exploited today by sugar cane distilleries that invade their territory, pollute the rivers, and destroy natural ecosystems. The indigenous are mostly subsistence farmers but the quality of the land is poor. Lost hope and lack of work have contributed to internal disagreements, killings, alcoholism, begging and malnutrition.
Women suffer greatly because much of the care of children and the sick fall on their shoulders.
For all the 18 villages there is only one health clinic. If a child falls ill, a mother has to walk over eight hours in order to get help. There are no buses during six months of the year because rains and mud make the road impossible to traverse. I've always viewed myself as strong, and a little crazy. Hard work is not something that I fear.