of Vaqueiros. It is difficult to tell when exactly the segregation of Vaqueiros ended, but there are reports of segregated churches as late as 1955. A suicide epidemic among the Vaqueiros has been active since at least the 1960s and the Vaqueiros have one of the greatest suicide rates in Europe, with a mortality rate of 28 per 100,000. Today, Vaqueiros face environmental inequality and a lack of opportunities. Many Vaqueira brañas lack sufficient roads, some lack electricity, and others lack running water. Many Vaqueiro brañas face environmental threats such as mining. In 2007, an electrical substation was installed in the braña of Buspol in Salas, against the protests of the Vaqueiros. Genetics A study of Vaqueiro mitochondrial DNA by Pedro Mercader Gómez et al. in 2013 suggests that the Vaqueiros are native to western Asturias and share a common background with non-Vaqueiros but have evolved to become genetically distinct from the non-Vaqueiro Asturian and Leonese population. Recognition The Vaqueiro people are not currently recognized as an ethnic group by the Spanish government. The Vaqueiro region, or Comarca Vaqueira (es), exists in Asturias as primarily a touristic region and does not cover all of Vaqueiro Territory or offer any land rights to Vaqueiros as a people. Notable people of Vaqueiro descent Luis Feito (1929-2021), painter Rosa Montero (born 1951), journalist and author Gil Parrondo (1921-2016), art director, set decorator, production designer Marilina Ross (born 1943), actress and singer Fernando Verdasco (born 1983), professional tennis player References Bibliography Further reading External links Concejo de Cultura Vaqueira (in Spanish) Asociación Cultural Vaqueiros de Alzada La Brañina (in Spanish) Asociación Ruta Vaqueros de Alzada de Torrestío (in Spanish) Vaqueiros de alzada Pastoralists Nomadic groups in Eurasia Ethnic groups in Spain Indigenous peoples of Europe Nomadic ethnic groups in Modern Europe Modern nomads Transhumant ethnic groups