Historian Alejandro Hartmann is conducting the first census of Taino descendants in Cuba.

The Taino Tribe occupied Cuba, Puerto Rico and neighboring islands at the time of contact with Europeans. The population dwindled dramatically due to war, slavery, disease and inter-marriage with Europeans and Africans.

But Taino culture is still a part of Cuba, experts like Hartmann say. Taino words and way of life are used every day in the country but are most preserved in remote villages.

Taino culture is also preserved in a new museum in Baracoa. Taino descendants still live in the area.

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Cuba's forgotten tribe experiencing a rebirth (The Chicago Tribune 8/10)
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