While studying the exhibitions in the Hall of the North American Indian in Harvard's Peabody Museum, I overheard a conversation between two other museum visitors whom I speculatively identified as a Harvard student and her European guest. The conversation was intriguing and revealing, particularly the following exchange.
European guest: "How many Indians have survived?"
Harvard student: "I think…about 5% of the original population."
European guest: "Have you ever seen one?"
Harvard student: "Only descendants…not the way they were."